Harrisonburg-Rockingham World War I Liberty Monument

Harrisonburg-Rockingham World War I Liberty Monument. . On July 4, 1924, Harrisonburg and Rockingham County officials and community members dedicated the World War I Liberty Monument. Leadership provided by American Legion, Rockingham (now Dayton) Post 27 brought the monument to Harrisonburg., World War I erupted in August, 1914. The "Central Powers" of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire fought the "Allied Powers" of Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, and Japan. The United States entered the war in 1917, joining the Allied Powers. An Armistice that took effect November 11, 1918, stopped the fighting. More than 40 million military and civilian deaths occurred during the four years of war. US military deaths were 116,708, in addition to 205,690 wounded., Veterans of the war began organizing the American Legion in the months soon after the Armistice. Congress chartered the national veterans organization in September 1919. Rockingham (Dayton) Post 27 was established the same month., After its formation, Post 27's members immediately sought to erect a permanent memorial in remembrance of the 48 comrades from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County who died during World War I. The Post's fundraising campaign brought in $10,000 to purchase the Liberty Monument, created by Charles Keck (1875-1951), an accomplished sculptor of national renown., In anticipation of the monument's 100th anniversary, Post 27 led efforts to restore "Lady Liberty" to its original luster. The City of Harrisonburg joined the project, assisting financially, and consulted the Virginia Department of Historic Resources about conservation guidance. Howard Wellman Conservation LLC, an experienced conservation firm, was hired to clean and preserve the monument so that it may endure another 100 years., July 4, 2024, marked the 100-year anniversary of the monument's dedication. It has stood throughout the years in memory of all those men and women who have died in service to this nation during wartime., The monument's two sets of alphabetized names reflect racial segregation during the era it was dedicated. The smaller set of names lists Black soldiers from the city and county who died during world war one.