A new memorial honoring the millions of Americans who served in World War I is currently being constructed in Washington, D.C. The centerpiece of this memorial is a 58-foot-long bronze sculpture titled “A Soldier’s Journey,” created by sculptor Sabin Howard. The sculpture, which is expected to be the largest free-standing bronze relief in the Western Hemisphere, features 38 figures in vivid scenes that depict America’s involvement in the war.
The memorial, located in Pershing Park across from the White House Visitor Center, was designed by architect Joe Weishaar, who won an international competition for the project. Initially planned to be 324 feet long, the sculpture evolved over the past decade to its current size. The scenes depicted in the sculpture were inspired by images and paintings of the war, with models wearing historical uniforms to ensure accuracy.
The process of creating the sculpture involved a high-tech studio in Britain equipped with a photogrammetry rig. Howard used this technology to create final sketches, a 3-D digital rendering, a maquette, and a full-size steel-framed foam armature. The clay sculpture was then cast in bronze at the Pangolin Editions foundry in England before being transported to Washington, D.C. for assembly.
The memorial is a tribute to the 4.7 million American men and women who served in World War I, with nearly 117,000 American soldiers losing their lives during the conflict. The completion of this memorial comes six years after the World War I Centennial Commission announced plans for a national memorial in 2015. The chairman of the commission, Terry W. Hamby, expressed the importance of building this memorial for future generations to understand and remember the sacrifices made during the war.
As the pieces of the sculpture are assembled and the memorial nears completion, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the story of World War I in a unique and engaging way. The unveiling ceremony on September 13 will mark the official opening of the National World War I Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
