100 cities, 100 memorials.
Pall Mall one of 100 cities to receive recognition from the World War 1 Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library .
The commission has awarded the Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation with a grant and official national designation as “WW1 Centennial Memorials’.
Josh Wagner is a park ranger at Alvin C. York State Park.
“Due to the individual city’s connection to the first Wold War, grant funding was awarded for projects that were being undertaken in those prospective cities,” Wagner said. “Here in Pall Mall, due to the connection to Sergeant York, the grant was awarded for the work that’s being done on the Sergeant York grave site and some other related things that are designed to keep Sergeant York’s name out there in the public consciousness.”
With the help of the grant, the local Rotary Club in Jamestown has helped construct a new fence around the grave site, make the area handicap accessible, and add a new and larger flag pole.
Sergeant York’s grave site is off of Wolf River Loop. A dedication to the work will take place Memorial Day Weekend on Sunday, May 27th.
The commission awarded grant funding to national landmarks such as Chicago’s Soldier Field, LA’s Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and San Francisco’s War Memorial Veterans Building and Opera House.
The 100 Cities/100 Memorials program was created to help draw attention to WWI memorials across the United States, and enables all of America to take part in the WWI centennial commemoration.