The life-size bronze "Dixie Doughboy," honoring the men of the 31st Division of the AEF, was completed by sculptor Charles E. Smith in 2010 and dedicated that Armistice/Veterans Day that year at Merritt Island, Florida's Veterans Memorial Center. The Dixie Division included many of the 33,000 Floridians who served under General Pershing's command in France.
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| The Vero Beach Version |
In 2021, the same molds were used to create a second Dixie Doughboy for Vero Beach, Florida. It is located at the community's Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary. The sanctuary, which opened in 1964, holds a number of tributes to the veterans of America's numerous wars.
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| Details from the Merritt Island Version |
Over the years, I've viewed hundreds of Doughboy statues and written about some of them here. Consequently, I'm embarrassed to say that I became aware of the Dixie Doughboys only recently. I ran across the photo at the top online and was struck by the dynamism and authentic detailing of the piece. The was, however, no location given for the statue. Luckily, I had my friend and historian of the World War I Memorial Inventory, Mark Levitch, to call upon and he gave me the locations.
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| Rifle Detailing |
I hope you enjoy these photos and can visit these sites when you're next in Florida.
I'd love a miniature.
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