World War I Monument: Peace Triumphant

World War I Monument: Peace Triumphant. . , Located in the very center of Scoville Park, "Peace Triumphant” was erected in 1925 to honor the veterans of World War I who hailed from Oak Park and River Forest. No tax money was involved in its original construction, residents raised nearly $60,000 to pay the monument and its upkeep for several years. The first dedication ceremony was held on Armistice Day (now called Veteran's Day) on November 11, 1925, with United States Vice-President Charles Gates Dawes among the thousands in attendance. See official program at right., Designed by local sculptor Gilbert Riswold, the monument features three bronze statues, representing the Army, Navy and Air Force, guarding the heroic female figure of Columbia, who often serves as a symbol of liberty, social justice and equality in the United States. A bronze tablet with the battle eagle of Illinois on the north side of the monument is inscribed with the names of the 56 Oak Park and River Forest veterans who perished in World War I, and bronze tablets on the base list the 2,446 other Oak Park and River Forest veterans who served., "Peace Triumphant” was completely restored to its original glory in 2010, and a rededication ceremony was held 83 years after the original dedication ceremony, on November 7, 2010. Today it still serves as the centerpiece for Scoville Park. A memorial ceremony is held at the monument annually on Veteran's Day., Scoville Park , Scoville Park celebrated its centennial in 2012 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. For more information, please visit www.pdop.org.