The statue on top of the monument depicts an American "Doughboy" soldier during World War I as he advances through "no-man's land" filled with barbed wire and shattered tree stumps. He is carrying his rifle in his left hand with a hand grenade upraised in his right hand. It was dedicated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1927 in memory of the men from Lauderdale County, Mississippi who served during that conflict. The statue sits on top of a triangular base made of stone and includes a small shrine protected by an iron gate. The statue is one of 250 "Doughboy" sculptures, referred to as the "Spirit of the American Doughboy," designed and mass produced during the 1920-1930's by sculptor Ernest Moore (E. M) Viquesney.
Installation Date:
11 Nov 1927
Organization Responsible for Installation:
T. C. Carter Post 21, American Legion
Memorial War Era(s):
- WWI
Memorial Condition:
Good
Location:
On an island bounded by 6th and 7th Streets and 23rd Avenue in downtown Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi 39301.