Photo provided by Gallipolis resident, Dick Thomas.
GALLIPOLIS, OHIO
N 38° 48.410 / W 082° 12.306
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260079.
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260079.
In City Park in downtown Gallipolis on the 1st Avenue side of the park.
The inscription on the plaque reads:
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
THE VALIANT SONS OF GALLIA COUNTY
WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR
1917 --- 1918
----------------
ERECTED BY
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
TO LAFAYETTE POST NO. 27
MAY 30, 1931
“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.”
ST. JOHN 15:13
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
THE VALIANT SONS OF GALLIA COUNTY
WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR
1917 --- 1918
----------------
ERECTED BY
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
TO LAFAYETTE POST NO. 27
MAY 30, 1931
“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.”
ST. JOHN 15:13
The sculpture was purchased and installed by the Women's Auxiliary of American Legion Lafayette Post 27.
A large crowd was present at the presentation ceremony and dedication of the Doughboy, which was performed by Mrs. James Oliver, whose son, Johnny, had joined the service while still in high school. When his class graduated from high school in 1918, an empty chair had been draped with a flag to honor him and Mrs. Oliver accepted his diploma for him. He was later killed in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign in the Argonne Forest.
In the past, the Doughboy lost his left hand, rifle and bayonet, and was painted in acts of vandalism. The left hand and rifle have been replaced, and the paint has been removed, but the bayonet is still missing. The sculpture has some discoloring and could benefit from restoration work. Also, the replaced rifle is not a replica of the Springfield 1903 found on most other Viquesney Doughboys, and looks quite different from them.
A large crowd was present at the presentation ceremony and dedication of the Doughboy, which was performed by Mrs. James Oliver, whose son, Johnny, had joined the service while still in high school. When his class graduated from high school in 1918, an empty chair had been draped with a flag to honor him and Mrs. Oliver accepted his diploma for him. He was later killed in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign in the Argonne Forest.
In the past, the Doughboy lost his left hand, rifle and bayonet, and was painted in acts of vandalism. The left hand and rifle have been replaced, and the paint has been removed, but the bayonet is still missing. The sculpture has some discoloring and could benefit from restoration work. Also, the replaced rifle is not a replica of the Springfield 1903 found on most other Viquesney Doughboys, and looks quite different from them.
The statue received a dry ice blast cleaning and a waxing in October, 2012. The work was sponsored by the Gallia County Veterans Service Commission.
