Second Division Memorial

Second Division Memorial

NPS / Claire Hassler

Quick Facts

Location:

Washington, DC

Significance:

War Memorial

Designation:

Memorial

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Located near the White House on the corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, the Second Division Memorial was dedicated on July 18, 1936. The memorial is dedicated "To our dead" from the division's service in World War I, 1917-1919. Places where the division served in Europe are listed on the memorial: Toulon, Troyon, Fois de Belleau, Vaux, Soisson, Marbache, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont, Meuse-Argonne, The Rhine. 

The centerpiece of the memorial is an opening blocked by a 18-foot tall, flaming, golden sword, meant to symbolize the division's defense of Paris. James Earle Fraser sculupted the sword. His other works include the Arts of Peace sculptures near the Lincoln Memorial, the design of the buffalo nickel, and perhaps his most famous work, "End of the Trail."

Following World War II and the Korean War, two wings were added to the memorial to honor the division's fallen from these conflicts. The memorial was rededicated with these additions on June 20, 1962.

Sculptor: James Earle Fraser

Inscriptions
Beside sword
TOULON-
TROYON.
BOIS
de
BELLEAU.
VAUX.
SOISSONS.
MARBACHE.
ST. MIHIEL.
BLANC MONT.
MEUSE-
ARGONNE.
THE RHINE.
base
TO OUR DEAD
1944
1945
NORMANDY RHINELAND BREST
REMAGEN SIEGFRIED LINE
LEIPZIG THE BULGE
CZECHOSLAVAKIA
ORGANIZED IN FRANCE IN OCTOBER 1917
ORIGINAL UNIT CONSISTED OF
ARMY MARINE AND NAVY TROOPS
UNITED NATIONS BATTALIONS ASSIGNED
TO DIVISION IN KOREAN WAR FROM
FRANCE THE NETHERLANDS THAILAND
NAKTONG RIVER BLOODY RIDGE
KUNU-RA HEARTBREAK RIDGE
CHIPYONG-NI OLD BALDY
WONJU ARROWHEAD RIDGE
1936
1962
TO OUR DEAD
1950
1954