Royal Sussex Joins National WWI Monument Dedication

The Royal Sussex Society was supremely honored to be a part of the grand illumination of the United States National World War One Memorial in Washington DC. Joined by our Royal Air Force and Royal Artillery friends, the Royal Sussex and our VADs added some European flavor to the East Coast Doughboys' displays during the weekend alongside the long-overdue monument to the Great War in the US capital. A 58' bronze statue, "A Soldier's Journey," was dedicated officially with its sculptor, Sabin Howard, to a large audience of donors and VIPs who financially contributed to making the sculpture a reality. The Monument, formerly looked after by the World War One Commission, is now in the care of the Doughboy Foundation, which provides a uniformed bugler to play "Taps" at 5pm each day, rain or shine. In honor of General John Pershing's birthday, we, along with the American contingents, left a bouquet of flowers at the statue of the American commanding general in the red and orange colors associated with the old 35th Regiment. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to be a part, and we were delighted for the chance.