Memorial Highway Monument to the Victims of World War I - Tampa, FL
N 27° 56.680 W 082° 30.421
17R E 351741 N 3091986
Second of two similar memorials.
Waymark Code: WM9NDH
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 09/08/2010
Views: 3
Inscription: (On base facing highway:) THIS/MEMORIAL HIGHWAY/IS REVERENTLY DEDICATED/AS A/ROAD OF REMEMBRANCE/TO THOSE WHO/GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR LIBERTY IN THE/WORLD WAR, 1917-18/BY THE/PEOPLE OF TAMPA AND/HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY/THROUGH THE/TAMPA ROTARY CLUB/-1921-/PETER J. DECKER/JOSEPH H. STRINGFELLOW/EMILIO WHITE (On each of the three sides is an alphabetical list of one hundred and six names of the war dead, including 23 who died in the sinking of the USS Tampa in the Bristol Channel on Sept. 26, 1918).
Description: Eagle on top of a tall Doric column with a four-sided base. Eagle is perched with wings slightly unfolded, and head turned to proper left. Inscriptions on all four sides of base.
Remarks: One of two monuments built as part of a memorial highway project conceived and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tampa. Monuments were designed by Rotarian Ralph Martin and highway was laid out by engineer and Rotarian Jack Hedrick. Sculpture carved by Turner Marble and Granite Company. IAS files contain related article from Sunland Tribune, Nov. 1981, pg. 72-75.
Formerly stood in center of Grand Central (now Kennedy Boulevard) at the intersection of Howard Avenue and Grand Central. Subject to frequent traffic accidents, the memorial was moved in 1940 to the entrance of the American Legion Cemetery at the intersections of Dale Mabry Highway and Kennedy Boulevard. In 1958, with the expansion of the Tampa International Airport and the new expressways, it was moved to its current site. Newsclippings on file in IAS show photograph of work in original site.
(
visit link)