Harrisonburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Rockingham County World War I Memorial
Photographed by Robert H. Moore, II, August 12, 2010
1. Rockingham County World War I Memorial
To commemorate those who, at the call of country, left all, endured hardships, faced danger, and finally passed out of sight of men by the path of duty, giving up their lives that others might live in freedom.
Earl D. Airhart George Y. Ailebaugh Walter Arey Peachy Armentrout Oral B. Atkins George R. Billhimer Walter Blankenship William H. Bowman John S. Bradley Jr Harry Gordon Bruce W. Paul Burtner J. Arthur Clayton Kennie Henry Deeds Wade H. Ettinger Charles F. Fisher Leon Gentry James C. Good Robert C. Harmon Charles E. Heishman Sheffie M. Knighten Isaac L. Lantz Joseph Cromer Lee George Frank Life Vernon Lee Lily Thomas Bayard Long Carey F. Miller Harry Miller Elijah Minnich John Minnick Charles W. Riggleman Herbert W. Rion Charles H. Rolston Samuel H. Rogers Charles R. Royer Edward W. Sellers Reuel Philip Swank Byrd O. Tracker John Ray Trussell George W. Webster Herbert E. Webster E. Ward Whitesel Harry Wirt Wise Russell H. Wood Henry Arrington John Billhimer Hamilton Brown John Warren Newman Ernest Rouser Willie Washington
Erected 1924 by Dayton, Virginia American Legion
this page online
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World I.
Location. 38° 26.602′ N, 78° 52.33′ W. Marker is in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is on South Main Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Harrisonburg VA 22801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Harrisonburg-Rockingham World War I Liberty Monument (a few steps from this marker); Confederate General Hospital (approx. Ό mile away); From Home to Hospital (approx. 0.3 miles away); James Madison University (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hardesty-Higgins House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bishop Francis Asbury (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisonburg.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Warren-Sipe House (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Additional commentary.
1. African-American Soldiers Named on Monument
The last six names on the scroll, on the bottom right, are of Rockingham County's African-Americans
Photographed by Robert H. Moore, II, August 12, 2010
2. Roll of the Dead
1. Pvt Henry Arrington - 803rd Pioneer Infantry. From Elkton, Va. Died in England on Oct. 4, 1918 at the age of 26. His body was returned to the U.S. on Oct. 21, 1918 and was buried in the Mt. Paran Church Cemetery east of Elkton. His grave is unmarked.
2. Pvt. Hamilton Brown - 14th Divisional Company. Died on Oct. 13, 1918 at Camp Meade, Md. From Elkton, Va. His body was returned to Elkton and was buried in the Mt. Paran Church Cemetery.
3. Cpl. John Warren Newman - 37th Regiment, 154th D.B. From Harrisonburg, Va. Died of pneumonia, Oct. 5, 1918, while stationed at Camp Meade, Md. His body was buried in Harrisonburg. Va. At the Newtown Cemetary.
4. Pvt. 1st Class John Billhimer - Co. A, 370th Infantry, 93rd Division. From Zenda, Va. Killed in action, Nov. 3, 1918. He was 24 years of age. His body was buried in Grave #24 Row 38, Block A, in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in Seringes-et-Nesles, France.
5. Ernest Rouser. Name may have been listed incorrectly on the monument, as the newspaper article indicates this to represent Seaman Ernest Williams - U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Wyoming. From Harrisonburg, Va. Died Sept. 20, 1918, when, while returning to his ship on a small motor launch during high seas,
Photographed by Robert H. Moore, II, August 12, 2010
3. Back of Memorial
6. Pvt. William L. "Willie" Washington - Battery E, 349th Field Artillery, 92nd Division. Died of spinal meningitis, in France, Dec. 18, 1918. His body was returned to the U.S. on April 22, 1922 and was buried in a small cemetery off of Lamber Town Road near Briery Branch west of Bridgewater, Va.
— Submitted July 30, 2015, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia.
Photographed by Robert H. Moore, II, August 12, 2010
4. Close-up of the Memorial's Statue
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 19, 2024
5. Full view of Rockingham County World War I Memorial
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 19, 2024
6. 2024 Refurbished World War I Memorial
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 19, 2024
7. 2024 Refurbished Roll Call of the Dead
Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2010, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,684 times since then and 58 times this year. Last updated on December 24, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2010, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 24, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
