Pershing Square Emile Ladnier WWI Memorial

American Legion Post 42 of Ocean Springs, Mississippi Pershing Square Emile Ladnier WW I Memorial project has been awarded a 100 Cities / 100 Memorials matching grant and has been designated as a World War I Centennial Memorial. On the eve of the 101st Anniversary of the United States entering World War 1, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library announced today the final 50 WW1 Memorials to be awarded grants and honored with the official national designation as WW1 Centennial Memorials. All 100 memorials, in all 100 cities have now been designated including such national landmarks as: Chicago’s "Soldier Field", LA’s "Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum", San Francisco’s “War Memorial Veterans Building and Opera House”, Honolulu’s "Natatorium" and Washington, D.C.’s “National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park”. In addition, many smaller local community projects are being recognized such as: Scranton Pennsylvania’s “Col. Frank Duffy Memorial Bridge and Park”, Cape May, New Jersey’s "Soldier and Sailors Monument", Ocean Springs, Mississippi’s "Emile Ladnier WWI Memorial," and North Carolina's NC State University “Memorial Belltower”, to name just a few. 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 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program, sponsored by the US World War One Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library with support from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars have now awarded $200,000 in matching grants and designated 100 memorials in 100 cities as official "WW1 Centennial Memorials". “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.” The proposals were reviewed by a jury and thousands of submitals came from the entire United States with only 100 selected for the award. Post 42 Chairman Richard Eckert Sr was one of the first submittals . He was contacted by officials who wanted him to explain the steps on how he accomplished the project from early planning to completion. The Centennial Memorial Commission created a video with information he supplied and within just a few weeks over five hundred hits from all over the nation were made on their web site. In addition entries were asked : What makes your projects unique and special? How does your project connect into the community and raise local, regional or national awareness about WWI and those who served? Who all is involved in the project - Is there a broad coalition? Eckert had no problem answering the last question, after receiving a go ahead vote from Post 42 he obtained approvals from the Board of Directors of the Mary C where Pershing Square is located. Further approvals were obtained from the City of Ocean Springs and the State Department of History. Construction was done by a private contractor with help from the Seabees and SONS of the American Legion. Memorial bricks were sold honoring veterans from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan. The proceeds after expenses were able to establish a building fund of $3000. With the 100 Cities grant of $2000 the building fund increased to $5000. Post 42 strives to further their community efforts such as hosting oratorical contests, Boys State, helping veterans, and sponsoring an annual Veterans Parade in Ocean Springs to name a few. Currently Post 42 meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 pm behind the Mary C (Taconi gym on Ward Avenue). Veterans are welcome come join the fellowship . The Auxiliary meets at the next door facility at the same time. The important thing to remember about Pershing Square, Eckert related, is you don’t have to be a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Silver Star, Purple Heart (PH), Bronze Star Medal (BSM), French Legion of Honor recipient, a survivor of the Bataan death march in WW II or to have served overseas or be from Ocean Springs although all of these Honored Veterans are represented in PERSHING SQUARE . Scores of the bricks honor Ocean Springs residents and family members who served including the fifteen original charter members of World War I Emile Ladnier American Legion Post 42 dated December 19, 1919 to include : H. Powell, Joseph C. Chaillot, R. Englaith, Oscar T. Davis, William L, Chaillot, Deo F. Bertuccini, Thomas Murphy , Van Cleave Reid, S. Chester Davis, Floyd Howell , James T. Ryan , Louis S. Tardy, L. Westbrook, Narcisse Dick and W.M. Abraham . Among the last bricks to be placed in Pershing Square were in memory of USMC MSGT John E. Hayes killed in action 8 July 2009 and GYSGT Jon W. Gifford killed in action 29 July 2012 both in Afghanistan. With the completion of Pershing Square American Legion Post 42 conducts a annual Veterans Day Parade. The third annual Veterans parade will be held October 27, 2018. Each year a focal point of the parade stops and lays a wreath at the WW I Pershing Square Monument of Emile Ladnier. Pershing Square is listed in Travel Advisor web site among the top ten places to visit in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.