Club's American Legion Post 20 hears about ironclad preservation efforts, Sept. 13 WWI memorial events

Guest speakers provided updates on preservation of the famed Civil War ironclad USS Monitor and the fast-approaching ceremonial unveiling of the centerpiece sculpture at the nation's World War I Memorial, during the Sept. 4 meeting of National Press Club American Legion Post 20.

The WWI Memorial, located a block south and west of the National Press Building, will host three days of events starting Friday, Sept. 13, featuring the first illumination at 7:15 p.m. of "A Soldier's Journey," a 60-foot-long sculpture by Sabin Howard. Eight years in the making, the sculpture features a doughboy's experience in "the war to end all wars."  Ceremonies will begin with an 11 a.m. wreath laying at the statue of Gen. John J. Pershing, leader of U.S. forces in Europe during the war and a founder of the American Legion who urged creation of Post 20 while he was an associate member of the National Press Club. Sept. 13 is the anniversary of his birthdate.

Michael Delaune, program administrator of The Doughboy Foundation, touched on highlights of the weekend that will include re-enactors, live music, a display of military vehicles and artifacts, and a tribute to World War I women switchboard operators. Details are available at doughboy.org, and information for media wishing to cover events is available here.

Howard Hoege III, president and CEO of the Mariners' Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia, focused on progress being made on preserving key parts of the USS Monitor retrieved in 2022 by Navy divers after its discovery in 1974 in 235 feet of water off North Carolina. Its mobile 114-ton turret, a revolutionary piece of naval technology, is slowly being stabilized for eventual display using techniques being pioneered at the world's largest conservation facility of its kind at the Museum's 550-acre campus in Newport News. Hoege said techniques being developed by the museum are being exported globally to marine preservationists, including new ways of treating wooden hulls. The museum's outreach has made it one of the most popular tourist sites in the region.

The epic battle between the Monitor and the Confederate Navy's ironclad Virginia at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 1862 changed naval warfare forever by making wood-hulled ships obsolete. The two ships battled to a draw. The Confederates destroyed the Virginia to keep it from falling into federal hands and the Monitor sank in a storm while being towed to a new battle station.

The guest speaker portions of Post 20 meetings are open to all Club members. The next meeting of American Legion Post 20 is scheduled for Nov. 13, with a speaker to be announced.