Lonesome Memorials: #11 Monument to the Sons of the State of Missouri, Who Fell for France, Varennes-Cheppy Road, Argonne

By James Gallen and the Editors

This monument was erected by the state of Missouri, USA, in memory of her sons who died in France for humanity during the great war 1917–1918. Fighting in this area was conducted by the 35th National Guard Division of the AEF.  On 26 September 1918, the first day of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the division broke through enemy lines between Cheppy and Variennes where they faced Prussian soldiers and heavy machine gun fire. Two members of the 35th, Pvt. Nels Wold and Capt. Alex Skinker, were awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery on the 26th, during which they were both killed. George S. Patton, leading the Tank Corps support for the attack was seriously wounded nearby the same day.

The Monument in the 1920s

The 35th division was composed primarily of men from the states of Missouri and Kansas, and units from both states fought around the monument site. This monument, however, is exclusive to Missouri.  There is no equivalent monument in France for Kansas, or one representing the 35th Division as a unit.

The Site Today

The monument, named Victory, was sculpted by Nancy Coonsman Hahn of St. Louis in 1922. Atop a granite pedestal is a bronze statue of a woman staring at the sky, holding an olive branch in her left hand and raising up a laurel victory wreath with her right.

Doughboys Near the Site, Probably Postwar

On the front of the granite pedestal is a French inscription (see below) with the corresponding English translation, "Erected by the state of Missouri USA in memory of her sons who died in France for humanity during the great war 1917–1918" on the back. The base of the monument is decorated with the Missouri state seal that reads "United we stand divided we fall."

The memorial has been in the news recently because it had fallen into disrepair, but there is good news. The 102nd Missouri General Assembly has appropriated $30,000 to fund repairs to the monument. 

To Get There:

A visit to this area should also include a stop at the similarly themed Pennsylvania Memorial at nearby historic Varennes. From there just follow the signs eastward along road D19  about 1.5 miles to the village of Cheppy.

Sources: American War Memorials Overseas; Harry S. Truman Library, 35th Division Pictorial History