Legion Post 20 to hear designer of new World War I memorial, May 20

The new National World War I Memorial at the former Pershing Park in Washington will be the subject of a virtual meeting of the National Press Club's historical American Legion Post 20 on Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m.   

The guest speaker will be Joseph Weishaar, lead designer of the Memorial. At age 25, his design was selected out of 365 international entries in 2015.  Since then he has been profiled in numerous media outlets for his design and continued work on the memorial.  

The memorial is on Pennsylvania Avenue, a short walk down 14th Street from the Club.  It was opened to the public at a live and virtual ceremony on April 16.  The event was hosted by actor Gary Sinese; President Joe Biden spoke in a recorded message.  The Memorial's centerpiece, a 58-foot-long bronze sculpture, is a work in progress and is scheduled to be installed in 2024.  

All Club members are invited to the meeting.  Please RSVP to Post 20 Sergeant at Arms Evelyn Moy at [email protected], who will provide a meeting link.

Post 20 was founded at the Club in 1919 at the suggestion of famed World War I General John "Black Jack" Pershing.  At the time Pershing was serving in Washington and was an associate member of the Club.  A statue of Pershing, formerly in Pershing Park, stands prominently in the memorial.