Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Gold Star Men of the World War
Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 7, 2023
1. Gold Star Men of the World War Marker
Walter C. Adams, 131st Inf. Charles A. Gardiner, O.M. Corps Frank J. Barnard, Med. Corps Frank A. Howe, 28th Inf. Elray A. Blake, M.T. Corps Howard W. Jauch, 131st Inf. Walter E. Capps, 6th Marines Tom P. Kester, Engineers Hedley H. Cooper, Y.M.C.A. Albert H. Mayo, 123d F.A. John H. Cranmer, S.A.T.C. Theron Pardee, Engineers Charles E. DeLacy, U.S. Navy Eli H. Schultz, 131st Inf. Gunnar K. Flodin, U.S. Navy David A. Taggart, 5th Marines Hazen A. Vaughan, 6th Marines
Erected 1921 by Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I.
Location. 41° 52.617′ N, 87° 47.054′ W. Memorial is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Ridgeland Avenue 0.1 miles north of Jackson Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. This marker is on the western edge of Longfellow Park, not far from the playing fields. It is along the Ridgeland Avenue sidewalk about halfway between Jackson Boulevard and the entrance to the Longfellow Center building. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 610 South Ridgeland, Oak Park IL 60304, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (within shouting distance of this marker);
this page online
More about this memorial. The marker shows a fair amount of wear; some of the names are hard to read.
This marker is one of at least five similar monuments dedicated to "Gold Star Men of the World War" that can be found in neighborhood parks in Oak Park. The memorials were dedicated on November 11, 1921, along with individual elm trees that were planted for each of the men listed.
Regarding Gold Star Men of the World War. Two of the men included on this plaque are not included among Oak Park's war dead on the Peace Triumphant statue, located in the center of the village in Scoville Park: Charles DeLacy and Eli Schultz.
In addition to
Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 7, 2023
2. Gold Star Men of the World War Marker and Longfellow Center in the background
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 7, 2023
3. Gold Star Men of the World War
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum
4. Charles A. Gardiner
Charles Andrew Gardiner, named on this plaque, was a member of the Quartermasters Corps who died of illness on January 14, 1918, while stationed at Camp Johnston in Jacksonville, Florida. According to an article in the Oak Leaves newspaper from five days after his death, the 24-year-old Gardiner was a graduate of St. Ignatius College and was working at a law firm when he enlisted in the Army just a month earlier. His home address was 644 South Wesley, six blocks due west of this plaque in Longfellow Park. He is buried at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois. This photo is part of the Chicago History Museum's archive of photographs of Chicago-area men who died in World War I.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 7, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on August 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
