From a press release:
“The World War I Centennial Commission will host a special First Illumination ceremony at the National World War I Memorial on Friday, September 13 at 7:15 p.m. ET. The ceremony will mark the completion of the Memorial with the unveiling of “A Soldier’s Journey,” a 25-ton, 60-foot-long bronze sculpture by acclaimed master sculptor Sabin Howard.
Earlier in the day, an 11:00 a.m. wreath-laying ceremony will honor General John J. Pershing on his 164th birthday at his statue within the World War I Memorial.
With installation complete, “A Soldier’s Journey” will become the largest free-standing high-relief bronze sculpture in the Western Hemisphere, depicting five scenes and 38 larger-than-life-size human figures that tell the story of the United States through the experience of a World War I soldier. Smithsonian Magazine noted, “It may become the greatest memorial bronze of the modern age.”
The evening’s highlights will include performances from The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and a 20-member bugle corps in World War I uniforms hailing from the United States and Allied nations. The bugle corps will perform an international tribute to the Allied nations with the playing of “Aux Morts,” the French bugle call; “The Last Post,” the British bugle call; and “Taps,” the U.S. bugle call.
The event will be capped by a candle lighting ceremony to mark the permanent illumination of the Memorial. The illumination will also symbolize the transfer of responsibility from the federally created World War I Centennial Commission to the National Park Service. With the sunsetting of the Commission on September 30, the Doughboy Foundation will become the stewards of the mission to ensure the United States continues to honor and remember those who served in World War I in perpetuity through this experiential memorial.
The live-streamed ceremony is open to the public with a special public viewing area featuring a large screen at the adjacent Freedom Plaza, located at 1325 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Those interested in witnessing this historic event can register to attend in person or via livestream on the National World War I Memorial website.”