A Century of Peace, Purpose, and Preservation
Published: 11 August 2025
By Edward Day
via the LinkedIn website
Bladensburg Day header image cropped
On Saturday, July 12, I had the honor of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Bladensburg WWI Memorial — better known as the Peace Cross and owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission — alongside federal, state, and local leaders, veterans, and a passionate community of preservationists.
As a proud Prince George's County native, the Peace Cross has always been more than a monument to me. It's a symbol of unity, sacrifice, and resilience — and now, thanks to a shared commitment, it stands restored and renewed for future generations.
When the memorial came under legal challenge, I served as consulting historian to help provide critical historical context — and in 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in our favor. From there, we shifted from defense to restoration: leading a cross-functional team, securing funding, and partnering with top preservation experts to protect the monument's legacy.
The restoration was completed in 2022, and on November 11 — Veterans Day and Armistice Day — we rededicated the Peace Cross, reaffirming its enduring role as a symbol of service, sacrifice, and peace.
To provide deeper context and honor those who served, we also partnered internationally to install WWI Doughboy sculptures by British artist Jackie Lantelli — a powerful tribute made possible through collaboration with the American Legion, the British Embassy, and the Royal and U.S. Air Forces.
Most meaningful of all: the Peace Cross honors everyone. Among the 49 names are men of color, students, farmers, a surgeon, a baker, and even a British-born Medal of Honor recipient. Then, as now, it reflects the diversity and unity of our community.
→ Read the entire article on the LinkedIn website.
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