Soldiers’ Memorial in Jones Park

East St. Louis, Illinois

Article abstracts donated to the SCCGS by Lawrence Kritis, photographs by Raymond Kritis.

Below are

1. abstracts from two newspaper articles about the Soldiers’ Memorial,
2. names of the 98 men from the area who died during World War I, plus five whose names were added at a later date [total 103],
3. links to descriptive comments about the men whose names are inscribed on the monument, and
4. two photographs of the monument, and a description of the monument itself.

The entity charged with care of this monument is unknown.

Above the names on the base are tributes to World War and Spanish American War soldiers (left), and Revolutionary War and Civil War soldiers (right).

East St. Louis (Illinois) Daily Journal, November 11, 1924

The Monument is located at head of Victory Drive in Jones Park, dedicated on the sixth anniversary of the signing of the Armistice

Parade started at 2:30 at 10th and State Streets moved east on State Street to 25th Street, north to Victory Drive Sixth Infantry Band of Jefferson Barracks

Grand Marshall, Max Adelman, former commander of American Legion Post No. 53
Legionnaires
Former servicemen
Boy Scouts
Civil War veterans
Spanish-American War veterans
Members of women’s auxiliaries of the war associations
Members of civic and commercial organizations

Back to top

Ceremony Plan

Monument unveiling at 3:30 by Virginia Lucille Johnson and Master Charles Ashton
Ceremony director, Mrs. C. H. Niederfeld of the Women’s Relief Corps
Assistants: Mrs. Florence Jamison Miller of Monticello, Mrs. William Bahrenburg of Belleville, past president of the WRC.
Principal Addressees: Rev. Joseph M. Lonergan of Durand , Ill., national chaplain of the American Legion, Rev. J. Stanley Mitchell of Shelbyville, past national chaplain of the American Legion.
Memorial funds raised by the legion and auxiliaries
Musical program: 6th Infantry Band Chorus of 400 from public schools, musical director Miss Julia Kelsey High School Band
Invocation: Rabbi Jacob R. Mazur
Monument presented by Helen R. Warner, general chairman of the memorial committee
Responded by Kevin Kane, attorney
Benediction by Rev. J. J. Downey of St. Joseph’s Church
Speakers Platform: Speakers, guests of honor, members of committee, Mayor M. M. Stephens, City officials, Representatives of the Park Board, Business and Professional Women’s Club, sponsor of memorial idea
Monument was a dream since the 1st anniversary of signing of armistice
Patriotic organizations outlined plans for exercises
Committee in charge arranged speakers and parade
G.A.R. took interest
Spanish-American War Veterans
Women of all of the war organization auxiliaries
Miss Cecil Townsend, secretary of the Red Cross and other officers of the chapter
Members of the Lions, Rotary and Optimist clubs, and others

Back to top

East St. Louis (Illinois) Daily Journal, November 12, 1924

Parade twenty minutes long, Order of Procession:

• Grand Marshall Max Adelman and Rev Lonergan, in uniform at head
• Sixth Infantry Band
• Limousine, handful of G.A.R. members
• Elaborately decorated pony cart for youngsters
• Gold star mothers in automobiles
• City officials
• Jefferson Barracks drum corps
• Spanish American veterans 100 strong
• World War veterans
• Members of women’s patriotic organizations
• Daughters of the Revolution
• Women’s Relief Corps headed by a float trimmed in white with letters WRC in red
• Auxiliaries of the American Legion posts
• Float representing all branches of the world war service, Mr. H.F. Belver, in charge
• Mrs. Belver, served in the army nurse corps, represented corps
• In uniform a doughboy, a marine, a gob
• Representatives of the women’s auxiliaries
• High School band
• Ainad Temple drill team, Steven Knowles in charge
• W.M.C.A. girls in buses
• St. Joseph’s Boy Scout band, headed by Scout Executive A. H. Curtis and Scoutmaster Charles Kastner
• Members of the Business and Professional Women’s Club

In total, 600 marched in parade, 200 in automobiles
1,500 assembled in park waiting for parade
Gold star mothers had seats of honor

Back to top

Ceremony

Monument revealed By Virginia Lucille Johnson and Master Charles Ashton

Women of various war organizations attired in white and arms laden with flowers placed flowers at base after reveal for those who fell in the following battles:

• Argonne, Meuse Valley, Don Sur Meuse
• Vimy Ridge, Chateau Thierry
• Cheppy, and
• other battlefields of France

Sixth Infantry Band played Star Spangled Banner, with chorus

Rabbi Jacob R. Mazur offered prayer

Speech by Rev. J. Stanley Mitchell, “The Price of Peace” cut short by a drizzle, then downpour.

Program then dispensed without following speakers getting chance to talk: Rev. Joseph Lonergan of Duran, III; Mayor M. M. Stephens; Kevin Kane Miss Helen Warner; Rev. J. J. Downey of St. Joseph’s Church

Dinner that night at Y.W.C.A. with guests of committees in charge of celebration, Miss Warner presided.

Back to top

Memorial Description

Built by Walter P. Tisch Monument Works, Belleville, locally represented by H. L. Becker of 1131 Cleveland Avenue

Each side of upper shaft dedicated to a war: World War, Spanish American War, Civil War, American Revolution

Monument centered in grass plot at intersection of three boulevards

Lower shaft inscribed with names of men who died in the World War, names compiled by Miss Warner

Top of upper shaft represented the United States standard, made of Barre granite, 17 feet tall

Surmounted with a granite eagle with a three and a half foot wing span

Back to top

Names of 103 WWI soldiers inscribed on base of Monument

Click Soldiers’ Name for More Information

Back to top