Peace Cross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Peace Cross
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Annapolis Rd. & Baltimore Ave., Bladensburg, Maryland |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1919–1925 |
| Architect | Earley, John J. |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000572 |
| Added to NRHP | September 8, 2015 |
The Peace Cross is a special memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland. It honors soldiers from Prince George's County who died in World War I. This large cross stands at a busy intersection of roads.
The memorial is 40 feet (12 m) tall. It is made of tan concrete with pink granite pieces. The cross arms are held up by simple concrete arches. At the base of the cross, you can read words like "valor," "endurance," "courage," and "devotion." There is also a bronze tablet. It lists the names of 49 local men who died in the war. The tablet also has a quote from President Woodrow Wilson. He said, "The right is more precious than peace. We shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts. To such a task we dedicate our lives."
The Peace Cross: A Look Back
The American Legion asked for this cross to be built. They wanted to remember the 49 soldiers who died overseas. A designer named John Joseph Earley created the monument. It was built between 1919 and 1925.
The cross shape was chosen for a reason. It looked like the crosses on soldiers' graves in Europe. In September 1919, a ceremony started the building process. The memorial was officially dedicated in July 1925. The name "Peace Cross" was first used in 1898. That was for a cross built in Washington, D.C., after the Spanish-American War.
The cross was first on private land. But in 1961, the land was given to the state. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission now takes care of it. The area around the cross has grown a lot. A big highway passes right by it. Lights were added to the cross to keep it safe at night. Other war memorials have also been built nearby. This area is now called Veterans Memorial Park. The Peace Cross was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
The Peace Cross in Court
The Peace Cross faced a legal challenge. In 2017, a court ruled that using public money to maintain the cross was against the rules. The court said it mixed government and religion too much. They felt the cross is a main symbol of Christianity.
However, in June 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court made a different decision. In the case of The American Legion v. American Humanist Association, the Supreme Court said the Peace Cross could stay on public land. They ruled that it does not break the Establishment Clause. This part of the US Constitution helps keep government and religion separate.
