Le Monument Americain - Meaux, France
N 48° 58.343 E 002° 54.206
31U E 492932 N 5424390
[FR] Après la victoire de 1918, l’idée de réaliser une statue commémorative de la Bataille de la Marne de 1914, se concrétisa. [EN] This vast monument is a poignant piece of architecture built in the north of the city.
Waymark Code: WMB0YN
Location: Île-de-France, France
Date Posted: 03/21/2011
Views: 15
[FR] Un concours, sur maquettes, fut organisé dont le lauréat fut Frederick Mac Monnies. Il fallut néanmoins quatorze années avant que le projet puisse aboutir.
En effet, ce n’est qu’en septembre 1932 que le Monument Américain est inauguré, lors d’une cérémonie solennelle, en présence du président de la République, Albert Lebrun et du président du Conseil, Edouard Herriot.
L’ensemble principal est composé d’une femme nue, debout. Sur le haut de sa jambe droite, elle porte son fils mort au combat. La nudité des corps rappelle les compositions de l’Antiquité. Derrière, sur la droite, un deuxième ensemble est constitué d’un autre homme, couché sur le dos, le visage en arrière, et d’une femme, à genou, le prenant dans ses bras. Le personnage principal, coiffé d’un bonnet phrygien, symbolise la France ou la Liberté. Il tient dans sa main droite une épée brisée et dans son bras gauche des étendards et des drapeaux, surmontés d’un coq. Un drapé en fleurs de lys entoure son bras droit.
[EN] It gives thanks to the people of America for all their help in securing the freedom of France in the Second World War. Although many decades ago, the feelings associated with this are still very strong here, a place that was actively touched by the ravages of war, and took a great deal of time to recover.
The monument was erected on the road from Varreddes to Meaux (Seine-et-Marne), on the exact spot where the German offensive on the Marne was halted in September 1914.
Its creator was the American sculptor Frederick Mac Monnies. The financing of the project was secured from 1916 onwards by subscriptions from more than 4 million American citizens. The memorial was seen as a symbolic gesture, comparable to France's donation of Bartholdi's statue of liberty.
It was unveiled on the 11th September 1932 in the presence of President Albert Lebrun, President of the Council Edouard Herriot and American General John Pershing.
Date the Monument or Memorial was built or dedicated: 11/09/1932
Private or Public Monument?: Private
Name of the Private Organization or Government Entity that built this Monument: a group of influential citizens of New York city
Geographic Region where the Monument is located: Europe
Website for this Monument: [Web Link]
Physical Address of Monument:
Rue Lazare Ponticelli
Meaux, France
77100
Rate this waymark: 
Photo or photos will be uploaded.: yes
|
Visit Instructions:
New logs to this waymark must contain at least one photo of the monument with your GPS in the shot as proof of your visit. No old vacation photos please. You must have taken a picture while seeking this waymark. Logs that don't meet the photo requirement will be archived.