Type Bronze Year 1983 | Location Washington, D.C. Created 1983 Owner National Park Service | |
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Dimensions 270 cm × 71 cm × 71 cm (108 in × 28 in × 28 in) Similar John Paul Jones Memorial, James A Garfield Monument, Navy – Merchant Marine M, John Ericsson National, Adams Memorial | ||
John J. Pershing General of the Armies, is a public artwork by American artist Robert White, located at Pershing Park in Washington, D.C., United States. John J. Pershing General of the Armies was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1994. The monument is a tribute to United States Army general John J. Pershing.
Contents
Description
The sculpture shows General Pershing standing with his head slightly turned, as if overseeing a battlefield in front of him. His proper right hand raises binoculars to his eyes and his proper left hand holds his hat at his side. Wearing a World War I uniform with knickerbockers, tall boots and a long belted jacket, he steps forward with his proper left foot.
Resting on a square of red granite (51 × 53 × 53 in.) in a small plaza, the sculpture is flanked by two tall granite walls.
The front of the rear wall is inscribed (rear wall: H. 10 ft. W. 3 ft. L. 31 1⁄2 ft.):
JOHN J. PERSHINGGENERAL OF THE ARMIES.The back of the rear wall is inscribed:
IN THEIR DEVOTION, THEIR VALOR, AND IN THE LOYAL FULFILLMENT OF THEIROBLIGATIONS, THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCESHAVE LEFT A HERITAGE OF WHICH THOSE WHO FOLLOW MAY EVER BE PROUDJOHN J. PERSHING(Pershing's signature)The front left wall, which is divided into four sections features an extensive text regarding Pershing's involvement in the Western Front, his leadership in First United States Army, the signing of the Armistice with Germany, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and an inscription reading (H. 10 ft. W. 3 ft. L. 49 ft.):
ERECTED BY:AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSIONWALLACE K. HARRISON ARCHITECTFREDERICK (...transcription illegible)ENGINEERROBERT WHITE SCULPTOR1983Information
Authorized by Congress on April 2, 1956, the American Battle Monuments Commission paid the $400,000 for the statue and walls.
Condition
This sculpture was surveyed in 1994 for its condition and was described as "well maintained."