New program would help restore local World War I memorials

Program offers assistance for WWI memorial upkeepInformation updated as of Oct. 7.

If you have World War I memorials in your county that could use some sprucing up, here’s an opportunity for funding to help.

The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library have announced a new program to help people across the country restore and preserve local World War I memorials.

Learn More

• U.S. World War I Centennial Commission 
• Pritzker Military Museum and Library 
• World War I Memorial Inventory Project 

100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS is a fund-matching program, where groups or individuals can:

• identify local sites in their area
• create a simple plan for helping to restore the sites
• submit their plan for consideration for matching grant funds, and
• restore the sites, with communication help and possible matching funds.

In November, 100 of the submitted projects will be jury-selected to receive matching funds. To qualify for a matching grant, a project needs to be submitted by June 15,2017. It must be located in the 50 states or U.S. territories, and it either should have been completed since Jan. 1, 2014 or will be completed by Nov. 11, 2018.

The details of the program, including guidelines and online application form, can be found on the website, www.ww1cc.org.

The program is designed to foster a sense of heritage in local communities, to recognize local stories and people who were involved in the war, and create a way for community members to participate in the national World War I Centennial.

The 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program is particularly well suited for community-service projects hosted by school groups, scout troops, veteran group posts, historical-cultural organizations, church groups, local sports teams and others.

The sponsor organizations have teamed with the World War I Memorial Inventory Project, a nationwide database of sites across the country, to help identify where monuments are located, and what condition they are in.

• All submitted projects are given communication resources, to help participants to publicize their work, post imagery to social media and to tell their own stories.
• There will be webinars and videos provided on the website to help with “How To Properly Provide Restoration,” and “How To Create a Project Plan.”
• A database from the World War I Memorial Inventory Project will be available as a tool to help find sites in local areas.
• All sizes and scope of projects can be considered for this program’s matching funds. However, the amount of matching funds available per project is currently limited to $2,000.