Miantonomi Memorial Tower designated a “WWI CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL"

The 100 Cities/100 Memorials program

The 100 Cities/100 Memorials program, sponsored by the United States World War One Centennial Commission (USWW1CC) and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library (PMML) with support from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars was created to help draw attention to WWI memorials across the United States, and enables all of America to take part in the WWI centennial commemoration. Many of these WWI memorials have deteriorated due to the ravages of time, exposure to the elements, neglect and even vandalism. More important, the program is designed to raise community awareness of those who served, and provides a tangible connection to the profound impact this war had on local towns and cities, securing an important place in military history.

Matching Grants

The 100 Cities/100 Memorials program has now awarded $200,000 in matching grants and designated 100 memorials in 100 cities as official "WW1 Centennial Memorials". The grants will be used to conserve, restore or improve these memorials. The newly-designated memorials are in 37 different states and each will receive a $2,000 matching grant, towards the restoration, conservation and maintenance of these local historical treasures. The City of Newport has already received their grant and have applied it towards the replacement of the two Honor Roll plaques that were stolen from the Miantonomi Memorial Tower in the 1970s.

Miantonomi Memorial Tower

The profound impact of the war moved citizens in places across the United States to commemorate both the national and local sacrifices from the conflict through monuments, buildings, plaques, parks, groves, even roads and highways. The Miantonomi Memorial Tower is evidence of the commitment of the citizens of Newport, Rhode Island, to remember their fallen from World War I. The names of 56 men from Newport were commemorated on the Honor Roll plaques originally installed on the monument.

Remembering the Fallen

“More than 4 million American families sent their sons and daughters to serve in uniform during World War I, 116,516 U.S. soldiers died in the war and another 200,000 were wounded,” said Terry Hamby, commissioner of the United States World War One Centennial Commission. “100 Cities/100 Memorials is a critically important initiative that will have an impact beyond these grants. These memorials represent an important part of remembering our past and preserving our culture.”

"I am impressed by the community involvement that has sprung from this project.” noted Dan Dayton, Executive Director of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission. "By focusing on restoring these community treasures, local cities, veterans groups, historical society and citizens have come together to remember the community’s heritage - and that was really a key goal of the program."

Kenneth Clarke, former president and CEO of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library and the originator of the program agreed. “By designating 100 WWI memorials across the nation, we believe the breadth and scope of this initiative will have a ripple effect beyond the 100 “WWI centennial memorials”. By promoting renewed interest and focus on these monuments and memorials — as a nation, we honor the names of those who served and the history of the communities where they lived."

Contact Matthew McCoy at riww1cc@gmail.com for more information about the Rhode Island World War One Centennial Commission (RIWW1CC) and its efforts to commemorate the men and women from Rhode Island who served during World War I.

#WeWillRememberThem