Leavenworth Co. WWI Memorial -- Leavenworth KS
N 39° 18.880 W 094° 54.758
15S E 335111 N 4353440
A very interesting folk-art WWI memorial on the NW corner of the Leavenworth County Courthouse grounds in Leavenworth KS, dedicated to "Our Boys" who made the supreme sacrifice.
Waymark Code: WMGQXD
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 04/02/2013
Views: 2
It looks like this memorial was made by hand locally for the men of Leavenworth KS who perished in WWI from 1917 to 1919. The memorial has a rough wedding-cake shape, with three hand-textured levels stacked on top of one another.
The rectangular base with inset sides and rounded corners is made of concrete with orange pebbles of a fairly uniform size pressed into the wet concrete to form a frame around a red poppy made of larger flakes of red stone. The concrete itself looks like it has been textures with the artist's thumb.
The square second level features the same rough textural treatment as the base, but has a different square shape. Two sides have bronze tables inset into the concrete. The main plaque makes clear that this monument is "Dedicated to the memory of Our Boys who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the World War 1917 -1919", with their names. More names fill the second plaque on the opposite side. The corners of each square are not joined at 90-degree angles, but are softened by the same round cylinders of concrete as the base. Not being artists or architects, Blasterz are not sure what the name of this particular shape is, or how better to describe it.
The top tier of the monument is a rounded hollowed-out rectangle, like a grotto, whose edges where this level connects with the tire below have been smoothed and shaped by the artist's hands, so it almost appears to be growing out from the middle square.
This level is again made of concrete texturized with the artist's thumb. In the hollow area on one side, red, white, and blue mosaic tiles were inset in wet concrete to make an American Flag. A circle of orange pebbles with radiating lines of other-colored pebbles makes a rising sun over the flag. More pebbles and concrete are manipulated to create a bas-relief of a tree growing from the earth.
On the other side of the top tier the concrete is hollowed out more uniformly. This side also features a bas-relief tree, but this tree seems to sprout from what looks like a pot made from pebbles on the second tier.
On top, a metal rod with thumb-printed concrete and pebble flower petals rises out of the memorial. The whole top of the memorial suggests the theme of growth and rebirth in nature. Perhaps this symbolizes hope for the future.
This is by far the most unique and interesting WWI memorial Blasterz have ever seen. It is filled with love and meaning, made by hand, and unsigned, so the artist is unknown.
Date the Monument or Memorial was built or dedicated: 01/01/1920
Private or Public Monument?: Government
Name of the Private Organization or Government Entity that built this Monument: Leavenworth County KS
Geographic Region where the Monument is located: North America
Physical Address of Monument:
Leavenworth county courthouse
111 E 11th st
Leavenworth, KS
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Photo or photos will be uploaded.: yes
Website for this Monument: Not listed
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