John J. Pershing General of the Armies facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John J. Pershing General of the Armies |
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| Artist | Robert White |
| Year | 1983 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 270 cm × 71 cm × 71 cm (108 in × 28 in × 28 in) |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| 38°53′45.1″N 77°1′56.7″W / 38.895861°N 77.032417°W | |
| Owner | National Park Service |
The John J. Pershing General of the Armies is a special statue in Washington, D.C., United States. It was created by an American artist named Robert White. You can find this artwork at Pershing Park. This statue honors a very important United States Army general, John J. Pershing. It was first looked at by the Smithsonian in 1994 as part of a project to save outdoor sculptures.
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Who Was General Pershing?
General John J. Pershing was a famous leader in the United States Army. He played a big role in World War I. He led the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in Europe. These forces were American soldiers who went to fight in the war. His leadership was very important on the Western Front. This was a major battle area during the war.
Pershing also led the First United States Army. He was involved in important events like the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. This was a huge battle that helped end the war. He was also there for the signing of the Armistice with Germany. This agreement officially ended the fighting in World War I.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
The statue shows General Pershing standing tall. He looks like he is watching over a battlefield. He holds binoculars up to his eyes with his right hand. In his left hand, he holds his hat down by his side.
He is wearing a uniform from World War I. This includes special pants called knickerbockers. He also has tall boots and a long jacket with a belt. The statue shows him stepping forward with his left foot.
The statue stands on a square base made of red granite. This base is in a small open area. Two tall granite walls stand on either side of the statue.
Messages on the Walls
The wall behind the statue has a message on its front. It simply says:
- JOHN J. PERSHING
- GENERAL OF THE ARMIES.
The back of this wall has a longer message. It talks about the brave soldiers he led:
- IN THEIR DEVOTION, THEIR VALOR, AND IN THE LOYAL FULFILLMENT OF THEIR
- OBLIGATIONS, THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
- HAVE LEFT A HERITAGE OF WHICH THOSE WHO FOLLOW MAY EVER BE PROUD
- JOHN J. PERSHING
- (Pershing's signature)
The wall on the left side also has important information. It lists who helped create the monument. It says:
- ERECTED BY:
- AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION
- WALLACE K. HARRISON ARCHITECT
- FREDERICK (...transcription illegible)
- ENGINEER
- ROBERT WHITE SCULPTOR
- 1983
How Was the Statue Made?
The idea for Pershing Park and its statue came from the U.S. Congress. They approved it on April 2, 1956. The American Battle Monuments Commission paid for the park. They spent $400,000 on the project. The statue itself was officially shown to the public in October 1983.
