World War Memorial

The building was first proposed by then Governor Richard Manning and approved by the South Carolina General assembly in 1919. Governor Manning's son, Wyndham Manning, a South Carolina Legionnaire, laid the first corner stone in 1935. Manning served in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Wyndham Manning was a member of Richland Post 6 (Columbia) and was their first Post commander. Harry Colmery, considered the principal architect of the GI Bill, was The American Legion's National commander and spoke at the dedication March 23, 1937. The Building: The imposing Indiana limestone stands two stories high. The original entrance faces west and is of Egyptian architecture. The top of the building on the frieze are the words "World War Memorial". It stands overlooking the Sumter Street side of the building. Reading into the west and carrying out the idea of "Going West" is the inscription "They were willing to Die" on the Pendleton street side of the building. On the original library side of the building reading into the East, in hope and the rising sun, is the line "They strove that war might cease". Reading into the North the words "For liberty and world peace". Above the door of the building above which are six fluted columns, is a tablet bearing the inscription "Dedicated to the man and woman of South Carolina who offered their lives in winning the war". Opening the great bronze doors weighing 800 pounds the visitor finds himself in a vestibule, who terrace floors of pink and gray mottled Tennessee marble reflects the light from the paneled ceiling above. The vestibule, on either side ascend marble stairways, with heavy bronze railings leading to the main floor are the chapel and shrine. Flanking the entrance to the chapel and shrine are tablets of marble. On the left one reads: When entering here to bow the head before the shrine of those who gave their lives at war, remember they went not forth to battle for the spoils of conqueror, nor did the scourge of hatred drive them into conflict Their cause was the restoration of peace to a strife-torn world, they died without malice in their hearts The tablet to the right of the entrance reads: Wheresoever sleep these loyal sons of a Proud Mother; wheresoever they await the Glorious reveille, this chapel is hallowed as their tomb, and let those who come within these sacred precincts ever keep in mind the purity of the purpose of the remembered dead.and renew allegiance to that peace with honor for which they fought On the panel on the eastern wall of the shrine is the dedication to the dead: Soldiers of South Carolina This is your peoples tribute to the spirit that made you Patriots; to the nobility of your purpose in espousing the cause of those beyond wide waters battling against subjugation by powerful invading foes to your endurance of the trials of war; to your valor on land and sea to your abhorrence of the greed of conquest to your love of justice to your devotion to peace to your sacrifice God rest your souls and May he help the living to be worthy to reap in The Field of Honor where you have sown