Berwyn in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
World War I Memorial
Photographed By Sean Flynn
1. World War I Memorial
The names of six battles are etched on the steps.
Aisne-Marne • Champagne-Marne • Chateau-Thiery • Meuse-Argonne • St. Mihiel • Somme
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I.
Location. 41° 50.216′ N, 87° 47.965′ W. Marker is in Berwyn, Illinois, in Cook County. Memorial can be reached from Wisconsin Avenue north of 30th Street, on the left when traveling south. The remnants of this World War I marker are in the center of Proksa Park to the east of the turtle pond and creek and to the west of the butterfly field. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3001 Wisconsin Ave, Berwyn IL 60402, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Berwyn 9/11 Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Arthur J. Dunham Centennial Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Illinois Open Space Lands (approx. 0.3 miles away); Berwyn Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lesak Park Veterans Flagpole (approx. 0.7 miles away); Veterans Park (approx. 0.8 miles away); Automobile Love Affair (approx. 0.8 miles away); Cruising the Strip (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berwyn.
More about this memorial. The triangular platform of steps, with the names of six World War I battles etched into the limestone, is the only evidence that
this page online
Proksa Park, at 17.5 acres Berwyn's largest park, was renamed in 1959 in honor of Berwyn's long-time park commissioner. It was previously called Community Park, but it was known by locals as Berwyn Park.
A 1928 article from the Chicago Tribune describes a ceremony in Berwyn's "Memorial Park" for the 10th anniversary of Armistice Day. The article says that 10,000 attendees came to Berwyn to see the unveiling of a new memorial to World War I; the former secretary of the Navy gave a speech. It's not yet totally clear whether this is referring to what is today Proksa Park, and if so whether there was originally more to this memorial than the steps, but it seems quite possible.
Additional keywords. berwyn proksa park
Photographed By Sean Flynn, July 15, 2023
2. World War I Memorial: Chateau-Thiery and Meuse-Argonne
Photographed By Sean Flynn, July 15, 2023
3. World War I Memorial: St. Mihiel and Somme
Photographed By Sean Flynn
4. World War I Memorial: Aisne-Marne
Photographed By Sean Flynn
5. World War I Memorial: Champagne-Marne
Photographed By Sean Flynn
6. World War I Memorial
Berwyn's 9/11 memorial is in the foreground.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 14, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
