Alabama Monuments, Memorials, & Historic Sites

We Need Your Help! Does your community have a WWI monument, memorial, or historic site not listed here? Do you have photographs or information about a particular site's history? If so, contact Graham Neeley at graham.neeley@archives.alabama.gov or (334) 353-4629 and help us tell Alabama's WWI story.

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Homer Givens, America's First World War I Hero

Details: Last Updated: 05 November 2016

Homer Givens, America's First World War I Hero

Address : 119 Howell St
Town/Suburb/City : Florence
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 35630

Description : "The home of Homer Givens, America's first hero in World War I, was located .4 of a mile north of this intersection. Following a bloody two-hour battle on November 1, 1917, Corporal Givens stood alone after his comrades had fallen. He then managed to kill three enemy soldiers before being severely wounded by twenty-three pieces of shrapnel. Givens was decorated with France's highest military honor, the Croix de Guerre. His award ceremony was attended by General John J. Pershing, Commander of the American Expeditionary Force." -Florence Historical Board marker.

Jackson County Veterans Memorial

Details: Last Updated: 05 November 2016

Address : 108 E Laurel St
Town/Suburb/City : Scottsboro
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 35768

Dedication Date : May 29, 1989

Kelly Ingram Park

Details: Last Updated: 08 November 2016

Address : 17th St N & 6th Ave N
Town/Suburb/City : Birmingham
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 35203

Description : Originally West Park, the name was changed in 1932 to honor Osmond Kelly Ingram, a local firefighter and Medal of Honor recipient. During the Civil Rights Movement the park was an integral location for rallies and demonstrations.

Lauderdale County Memorial Trees

Details: Last Updated: 03 November 2016

Address : University of North Alabama, 1 Harrison Plaza
Town/Suburb/City : Florence
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 35630

Dedication Date : February 28, 1919

Description : "On February 20, 1919, a row of memorial trees was planted along the east side of what was then Seminary Street (now Harrison Entrance) on city property fronting two new State Normal School dormitories. These trees were planted in honor of the men of Lauderdale County who gave their lives during World War I. On April 20, 1919, an additional tree from the battlefields of France, sent by the President of that country, was planted shortly thereafter. This monument was erected near the trees. The monument was removed from its original location to this site and rededicated on November 9, 2002. The 40 men from Lauderdale County who lost their lives during World War I are listed on a monument in front of the American Legion Building at 318 South Court Street, and at the Veterans Memorial on South Cox Creek Parkway, Florence." -the above text was taken from the historical marker.

Lee County Veterans Memorial

Details: Last Updated: 05 November 2016

Address : 204 S 7th St
Town/Suburb/City : Opelika
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 36801

Description : Erected by V.F.W. Post 4749.

Leeds Veterans Memorial

Details: Last Updated: 08 November 2016

Address : Montevallo Rd SW
Town/Suburb/City : Leeds
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 35094

Dedication Date : 1998

Legion Field

Details: Last Updated: 03 November 2016

Address : Graymont Ave
Town/Suburb/City : Birmingham
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 35204

Lt. John Tillman Melvin War Memorial

Details: Last Updated: 08 November 2016

Address : Intersection of Lauderdale St. & Alabama Ave.
Town/Suburb/City : Selma
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 36701

Description :

"Born in Selma, Alabama Oct. 16, 1887. Among the first to volunteer, and the first American Naval Officer killed in action in our war with Germany. Lost his life by a torpedo from a German submarine while aboard the U.S. ship ALCEDO off the coast of France Nov. 5, 1917. He gave his life that democracy and liberty might live." -Memorial text

Erected by the Citizens of Selma.

Lt. William C. Maxwell/Air Force ROTC

Details: Last Updated: 07 November 2016

Address : Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base
Town/Suburb/City : Montgomery
State/County/Province : AL
Country : USA
Postal code/ZIP : 36113

Description :

"William Calvin Maxwell was born Nov. 9, 1892 in Natchez, Ala. An Army ROTC student at the University of Alabama, he left in 1917 to enlist in the Army. He received his commission in April 1918, after completing flight training at Kelly Field, Texas. In 1919, he was assigned to the 3rd Aero Squadron, Philippines. On August 12, 1920, engine trouble forced Lt. Maxwell to attempt to land his DH-4 in a sugarcane field. Maneuvering to avoid a group of children playing below, he struck a flagpole hidden by the tall sugarcane and was killed instantly. On the recommendation of his former commanding officer, Maj. Roy C. Brown, Montgomery Air Intermediate Depot was renamed Maxwell Field on Nov. 8, 1922.

The Reserve Officer Training Corps was created by the National Defense Act of 1916. Air Force ROTC has its roots in seven Army Air Service ROTC units established at land-grant colleges in the 1920s. The program was significantly expanded after World War II and again in 1964. Air Force ROTC is the Service's largest and oldest source of commissioned officers, recruiting and educating thousands of officer candidates each year at colleges and universities nationwide. The Junior ROTC program provides citizenship training to high school students in the United States and the Department of Defense schools around the world. Maxwell Air Force Base has been home to Headquarters, Air Force ROTC since 1956." -Alabama Historical Association marker, 1995.