Carmel-by-the-Sea World War I Memorial Arch
selected for National recognition!
By MARY SCHLEY (Carmel Pine Cone ,6 Oct '17)
The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission chose the World War I memorial arch at Ocean and San Carlos as one of 100 memorials across the country to receive a matching $2,000 grant for restoration work in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the war’s end, Paul Rodriguez of the American Legion Post 512 told the city council Tuesday. The arch was designed by architect Charles Sumner Greene and built out of sandstone on Nov. 11, 1921, three years to the day after World War I ended.
Rodriguez, former councilman Mike Brown, planning commissioner Michael LePage and builder Brian McEldowney — whose grandfather built the arch — have found a supply of sandstone to match the original, so the flaking and broken bricks can be replaced, and the post is raising the money to get it.
“Brian is a third-generation stonemason who worked with his father to repair the arch after it was smashed by a runaway car,” in 1977, Rodriguez reminded the council.
The group has a little over a year to raise the money and complete the restoration, with help from the matching grant from the commission, which was created by former President Barack Obama in 2013 and is “responsible for planning, developing, and executing programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial” of World War I, including raising private funds to construct a memorial in Washington, D.C.
“We are still in the early stages getting figures for costs, logistics, and acquiring and storing the stone,” said Rodriguez, who referred to the arch as a “world-renowned artifact.”
The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission chose the World War I memorial arch at Ocean and San Carlos as one of 100 memorials across the country to receive a matching $2,000 grant for restoration work in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the war’s end, Paul Rodriguez of the American Legion Post 512 told the city council Tuesday. The arch was designed by architect Charles Sumner Greene and built out of sandstone on Nov. 11, 1921, three years to the day after World War I ended.
Rodriguez, former councilman Mike Brown, planning commissioner Michael LePage and builder Brian McEldowney — whose grandfather built the arch — have found a supply of sandstone to match the original, so the flaking and broken bricks can be replaced, and the post is raising the money to get it.
“Brian is a third-generation stonemason who worked with his father to repair the arch after it was smashed by a runaway car,” in 1977, Rodriguez reminded the council.
The group has a little over a year to raise the money and complete the restoration, with help from the matching grant from the commission, which was created by former President Barack Obama in 2013 and is “responsible for planning, developing, and executing programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial” of World War I, including raising private funds to construct a memorial in Washington, D.C.
“We are still in the early stages getting figures for costs, logistics, and acquiring and storing the stone,” said Rodriguez, who referred to the arch as a “world-renowned artifact.”
The commission issued its first 50 grants and will announce another 50 next month, according to Rodriguez.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the [community] to get involved in the effort to restore our World War I memorial,” he said.
The post’s new commander, Brian Andrus, said the memorial was among the commission’s top picks for the honor.
“Ours is by far one of the best-looking World War I memorials out there,” he said.
Former planning commissioner Ian Martin wrote the essay that accompanied the legion’s successful grant application to the World War I Commission.
“A member of the American Legion helped place the cornerstone for the memorial on Armistice Day, 1921, and, along with the local paper, The Carmel Pine Cone, members of the American Legion helped raise the money to build it, holding dances and vaudeville shows in the building that would eventually be the home to the American Legion Post 512,” he wrote. “The American Legion has partnered with the City of Carmel- by-t he-S ea in the memorial’s care and maintenance ever since.” He also noted Greene’s father, Thomas, was a veteran of the Civil War.
“It likely prepared him to deeply respect the service and the sacrifice of the 54 Carmelites who helped end World War I, and to understand, as much as a civilian can, what many of them went through while fighting in Europe,” Martin speculated in the essay.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the [community] to get involved in the effort to restore our World War I memorial,” he said.
The post’s new commander, Brian Andrus, said the memorial was among the commission’s top picks for the honor.
“Ours is by far one of the best-looking World War I memorials out there,” he said.
Former planning commissioner Ian Martin wrote the essay that accompanied the legion’s successful grant application to the World War I Commission.
“A member of the American Legion helped place the cornerstone for the memorial on Armistice Day, 1921, and, along with the local paper, The Carmel Pine Cone, members of the American Legion helped raise the money to build it, holding dances and vaudeville shows in the building that would eventually be the home to the American Legion Post 512,” he wrote. “The American Legion has partnered with the City of Carmel- by-t he-S ea in the memorial’s care and maintenance ever since.” He also noted Greene’s father, Thomas, was a veteran of the Civil War.
“It likely prepared him to deeply respect the service and the sacrifice of the 54 Carmelites who helped end World War I, and to understand, as much as a civilian can, what many of them went through while fighting in Europe,” Martin speculated in the essay.