Announcing The Memorial Hunters Club

Press Release

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The Memorial Hunters Club challenges public to find and register local WWI Memorials 

Hundreds of missing WWI memorials to be assembled into a national register & map 

Washington, DC - October 28, 2016 

There is currently no complete U.S. register of WWI memorials. The Memorial Hunters Club, launches this week from the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program and is intended to crowd-source a complete register of US WWI memorials. 

The initiative invites veterans groups, schools, scouts, 4H members, DAR chapters, civic organizations and interested individuals to locate, document, research and register local memorials not currently in the US World War One Centennial Commission's database found at ww1cc.org/ww1-memorials. 

The resulting map, images, information and raw data will be put into the public domain and will be made available to any school, university, organization or anyone who wishes to expand on or publish the results. 

As a reward for finding one of these fading cultural treasures (not currently recorded on the national map), the Memorial Hunter or Team will be recognized on the map and database as the source of that find, either by name, nickname or team name. 

It is a little like Pokemon Go(R) in that the memorials will be found in public places, parks, public building, schools and churches. Once a Memorial Hunter has located a memorial, they can use their smart phone to look it up on the map at ww1cc.org/hunter and if it is not posted they can claim it by taking pictures, marking the map location, researching the history and uploading the find on the Memorial Hunters Club web site. 

"We think this is going to be a fun, as well as, highly educational activity, hunting a fading archeology of America's short but poignant history. The MHC (Memorial Hunters Club) offers a great service project activity for scouts, schools, organizations and enthusiasts alike, as it brings focus to local history and heritage during this centennial period" said Theo Mayer, one of the program managers for 100 Cities / 100 Memorials. 

Background: 100 years ago, In April of 1917, the United States enters World War 1. Nearly 1 million US soldiers would fight 13 key battles in Europe, decisively helping to end a devastating 4 year global struggle. Nearly 4 million Americans in total put on the uniform ready to serve. That is nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults affecting every city, town and family in the country. On the return of the troop, thousands of Memorials were erected in parks, churches, schools and other locations around the country. In nearly century later, many of these memorials have fallen into disrepair and even more have faded from recognition and memory. The Memorial Hunters Club combines the adventure of Pokemon Go(R) and civic pride of community to located and record this fading national heritage. 

About 100 Cities / 100 Memorials: The 100 Cities / 100 Memorials is a $200,000 matching grant give away, established by the US World War One Centennial Commissions and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, supported by various Veterans Service organization such as The American Legion and The Veterans of Foreign Wars. The program provides matching grants for organizations and groups who undertake WWI memorial restorations, conservation and repairs. The Memorial Hunters Club is in support of this program by helping participants identity and undertake these service projects. 

Contact: 

Chris Isleib
U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
Director of Public Affairs
chris.isleib@worldwar1centennial.org
301 641 4060