Dedication of the Return from the Argonne: November 11, 2021
The dedication of the Return from the Argonne memorial occurred on November 11, 2021 at 11:00am at Union Station, 300 Water Street in Montgomery, Alabama.
The sculpture is a gift to the city of Montgomery from the Croix Rouge Farm Memorial Foundation through the generosity of Nimrod T. Frazer whose father (William J. Frazer, 167th Infantry Regiment, 42nd “Rainbow” Division) fought in the Argonne under the orders of Douglas MacArthur. This statue of a dead soldier returning from the Argonne memorializes Alabamians who fought in the Meuse-Argonne campaign as well as all the Alabama Veterans of World War I. It was dedicated on Veterans Day 2021 to honor the service of Alabama veterans.
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- 1st row: Mayor Reed, LG Hecker, MG Gordon, 2nd row: Monique Seefried, Rod Frazer, Col. Craft
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- Ceremony
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- Ceremony
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- Ceremony
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- Preparation for the unveiling of the statue
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- Unveiling of the statue by, from left to right, LG Hecker, Mayor Reed, MG Gordon, Col. Craft, Rod Frazer and Monique Seefried.
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- Unveiling
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- Unveiling
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- Rod Frazer with the sculptor James Butler and his daughter Rosie
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- James Butler with BG Bass
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- Noble Sissle Jr., Franklin Carmona, MG Gordon, Brandy Collot and James Reese Europe III
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- Franklin Carmona and Brandy Collot from The 369th Experience with Monique Seefried
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- Reception in the Train Shed of Union Station
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- James Butler, MG Gordon, Rod Frazer, Paula Mims and Angie Butler
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- The Return from the Argonne in front of Union Station and in the distance, the Rainbow Soldier, also from James Butler
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- The Return from the Argonne
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- The Return from the Argonne
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- The Return from the Argonne
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- The Return from the Argonne
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- The Return from the Argonne
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- The Return from the Argonne
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- The Return from the Argonne
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- The Return from the Argonne
On the 11th hour, on the 11th day, on the 11th month, the bells rang, the sirens blared, the National Salute took place all over the country to commemorate the centennial of the Return of the Unknown Soldier to Arlington. The city of Montgomery joined the National Salute before celebrating Veterans Day and inaugurating the Return from the Argonne memorial.
To honor James Reese Europe, a native of Mobile, Alabama, who brought jazz to Europe as the band leader of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the Alabama National Guard band with two members of The 369th Experience band played his famous song, Memphis Blues, after the unveiling of the Return from the Argonne memorial.
