The new World War I memorial, A Soldier’s Journey, by sculptor Sabin Howard was unveiled last week in Washington DC. It presents an essay in opposites, contrasting a young girl to men at war and the customary stillness of a water pond juxtaposition to the turbulence of battle charging soldiers, calvary and arms.

The sculpture and its surrounding plaza were first commissioned over nine years ago by The World War I Centennial Commission and The Doughboy Foundation. These organizers simply tasked competing design teams to first consider, “something memorable, that will move citizens to learn more about WWI and our nation’s history.” Their selection result in the design team of a young architect, Joseph Weishaar (b. 1990), and seasoned traditional sculptor, Sabin Howard who presented a 58-foot-long bronze sculpture and a centerpiece of the National World War Memorials in Washington, DC, prominently located next to the White House lawn. The installation of sculpture, fountain feature, reflecting ponds and granite plaza occupy a 1.7 acre area of the former Pershing Park, at  Pennsylvania Avenue, between 14th and 15th Streets.

Presenting only one soldier’s experience, the sculpture captures five separate scenes across a 58 foot length movement of 38 life-size figures. The objective is a sobering narrative to represent over 4.7 million Americans who served in that war and 116,516 who gave their lives.

Tranquil Tree Lined Setting

Everyday at the new WWI memorial plaza, the American flag is lowered as taps are sounded at 5pm by a period-uniformed Doughboy. It’s a solemn evening tribute to honor America veterans and the continued services of all active-duty military personnel.

The awarded honor was given in 2015 to the design team of young architect, Joseph Weishaar (b. 1990), and seasoned traditional sculptor, Sabin Howard. The onus of detailed planning and construction quickly began on the Capital’s first National World War I Memorial, with the design of a minimalist stepped granite plaza surround to lead site line and visitors to the design centerpiece of sculpture and to its reverse side an engraved granite feature water wall. In this way, visitors entering the park are greeted by an historic inspiration. The central structure is discretely surrounded by a set of rectangular reflecting pools and groupings of long elegant steps that both separate visitors and accommodates crowds to relax. A very successfully designed park installation of large stepped stone areas, water feature and bronze centerpiece offer an very intimate interior setting to the busy pedestrian sidewalks and adjacent roadways. (Hard surfaces of the marble and surrounding massive stone offices is buffered by tree foliage, plantings and a simple series of reflecting pools that wisely divide public contact with the sculptural work. Hard surfaces of the marble and surrounding massive stone offices is buffered by tree foliage, plantings and a simple series of reflecting pools that wisely divide public contact with the sculptural work. To the back of the feature wall are engraved quotes, a visual reference to theaters and battles of American forces titled, ‘The Peace Fountain’ that covers an excerpts from the poem “The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak” by Archibald MacLeish.  It’s a well-planned surround that quietly separates the monumental bronze sculpture from public walking space.)

Heroic Sculptor of a Heroic Theme May Apply

Applicants may submit design at link for the WWI monument; but few will have the daring and courage of veteran sculptor, Sabin Howard. His design of the colossal 25 ton monument first began nine years with the promise of commission the Centennial Commission committee directions were to build, “something memorable, that will move citizens to care and learn more about WWI and the nation’s history.”

With that small bit of guidance, one must wonder what type of artist would allow himself dare image a monument of 38 slightly larger-than-life size bronze figures, to represent a country’s pivotal time of becoming a leading world power and future technology leader.

Follow the Enlisted Man

New York based sculptor Sabin Howard proposed and built a colossal 58 by 10 foot construct of thirty-eight individual bronze cast figures. The final mass weighed over 25 tons and stands as the centerpiece of Joseph Weishaar elegant plaza setting and the largest free standing high relief bronze in the western hemisphere. The stunning high-relief is an animated surface of human figures that move in cast shadows of light and form. Howard’s theme follows a deeply personal journey of just one WWI soldier from the initiated recruitment and departure from home, to a battlefield of waiting fellow enlisted. The dramatic visual story line represents the experience of every American soldier and every family aware of the real danger. This sculpture doesn’t hide from the harsh reality of war with symbols of triumph and honorary medals, but takes ownership. Viewer can follows the figures’ story line in bronze from family to a clustered grouping of chaotic battle energy. The momentum ends quietly and most significantly marked by the silent finality of a young girl reading a soldiers letter.

Mark for this History Books

Sabin Howard’s A Soldier’s Journey  is the largest free standing high relief bronze in the western hemisphere and the first of over 160 public monuments at the nation’s capital devoted to WWI . Its significance of the theme cannot be understated, lives are disrupted, men were lost and disfigured without the assurance of a plan or return to safety.. will stand as a mindful and sober reminder of 4.7 million Americans served in that war and 116,516 who gave their lives.  to those viewing it of deference and reflect of all soldier who have sacrificed comfort for a set of battlefield camo’s and sleeping cots.

Howards message is mingled about and woven through the thirty-eight bronze figures and set in bronze a truth, war is brutal. That truth is in shown in the intricately carved expression of fear and of sacrifice in each carefully planned sculptured face. It resonates in the actions and storyline  of Howard’s 38 figures as a nation’s warning to future generations, don’t forget your history, freedom is earned at a price.

“I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal.” Abraham Lincoln

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Ronald Reagan

The significance of the theme can not be understated. of it’s 30 dedicated statues, in Washington DC, non have been attributed to World War One. Sabin Howard’s ‘Journey of a Soldier’ marks the first public art recognition of the war and the lives so brutally lost. ‘Brutal,’ being the key term, war is ugly, lives are disrupted, men were lost and disfigured. There is nothing that strike fear to the core of a nation than the threat of a war, and there it is represented with honest the fall out; disfigurement, suffering and loss. Our people, Americans, sent to battle without the assurance of a plan or return to safety.

Sculptor does not turn away from the brutality of war or glorify it, but instead faces it right to core of its disillusionment and brutality. He sets a in bronze a truth, war is brutal, some may not return, those that do will be changed. We see this sentiment deeply expressed in the  sensitivity of Howard’s design work in each of 38 figures for “The Soldier’s Journey.” It’s a meaningful and very powerful installation, especially for those of us with military connections.