Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Gold Star Men of the World War
Photographed by Sean Flynn
1. Gold Star Men of the World War Marker
Arthur H. Evans Joseph F. Powers, U.S. Navy Marshall W. Foote, 10th F.A. James Douglas Rivet, 61st Inf. Harry A. Gross, Jr., 120th Inf. Amos Bradford Whittle, Aviation Corps Cecil F. Kaye, C.A. Corps Lester T. Widman, U.S. Navy
Erected 1921 by Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I.
Location. 41° 52.069′ N, 87° 47.802′ W. Memorial is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from South Kenilworth Avenue 0.1 miles north of Fillmore Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker is in the middle of Carroll Park immediately next to two other war memorials down a pathway near the parks recreation center. The other monuments are a flagpole dedicated to World War II soldier Robert Emmett Murphy, and a larger World War I "Honor Roll" including the names of about 120 veterans from the neighborhood. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1125 South Kenilworth, 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: Robert Emmett Murphy Memorial Flag Pole (here, next to this marker); Carroll Park Veterans Honor Roll (here, next to this marker); Carroll Center
this page online
More about this memorial. 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. When this one was dedicated, the park was known as Lincoln Playground, named after the elementary school that is immediately next to it.
Regarding Gold Star Men of the World War. Of the eight men listed on this plaque, only two are included in the "Honor Roll" plaque just a few yards away: Joseph Powers and Lester Widman. Six of the eight men are also listed on Oak Park's Peace Triumphant World War I memorial, in Scoville Park; Arthur Evans and Cecil Kaye are the two not
Photographed by Sean Flynn, June 4, 2023
2. Three Memorials in Carroll Park
The Gold Star Men marker is one of three near each other in Carroll Park. To the left is an "Honor Roll" of neighborhood men who fought in World War I, and in the middle is a flagpole in honor of Robert Emmett Murphy, a World War II soldier. The Gold Star Men plaque is on the right.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum, circa 1917
3. Amos Whittle (1894-1918)
Amos Whittle enlisted in the air service in 1917, not long after he had graduated from the Kent College of Law. He died in September 1918 when the plane he was piloting crashed in the ocean near Coronado Beach not far from San Diego, killing him and his passenger. Whittle is buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois. Newspaper reports at the time of his death said that his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Whittle, lived at 812 South Kenilworth in Oak Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 7, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on May 14, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
