'A stirring and impressive tribute'
American Legion National Commander James W. "Bill" Oxford received a private tour of the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., on April 15, calling it “a stirring and impressive tribute to an extraordinary generation of heroes.”
The organization donated $370,000 toward construction, not including funds raised at the local level by American Legion posts, American Legion Riders chapters, American Legion Auxiliary units and Sons of The American Legion squadrons.
![Meredith Carr, deputy director of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, affixes a poppy pin to the lapel of American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., on April 15. Photo by Eric Kruszewski](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/legion/photo-album/04152021_EricKruszewski_WWImemorial_0005.jpeg?itok=M8lrfChn)
Meredith Carr, deputy director of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, affixes a poppy pin to the lapel of American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., on April 15. Photo by Eric Kruszewski
![Terry Hamby, chairman of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, shows American Legion National Commander James W.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/legion/photo-album/04152021_EricKruszewski_WWImemorial_0010.jpeg?itok=Vs5trqjT)
Terry Hamby, chairman of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, shows American Legion National Commander James W. "Bill" Oxford around the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., on April 15. Photo by Eric Kruszewski
![American Legion National Commander James W.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/legion/photo-album/04152021_EricKruszewski_WWImemorial_0034.jpg?itok=0HxTQuD8)
American Legion National Commander James W. "Bill" Oxford, left, and U.S. World War I Centennial Commission Chairman Terry Hamby pay their respects at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., on April 15. Photo by Eric Kruszewski
![From left to right are Terry Hamby, chairman, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission; Joe Weisharr, the memorial's architect; Meredith Carr, deputy director, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission; American Legion National Commander James W.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/legion/photo-album/04152021_EricKruszewski_WWImemorial_0039.jpeg?itok=g21NxFvn)
From left to right are Terry Hamby, chairman, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission; Joe Weisharr, the memorial's architect; Meredith Carr, deputy director, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission; American Legion National Commander James W. "Bill" Oxford; and Larry Cline, the commander's aide. Photo by Eric Kruszewski
![American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford pauses to reflect during a private tour of the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., April 15. Photo by Eric Kruszewski](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/legion/photo-album/04152021_EricKruszewski_WWImemorial_0085.jpeg?itok=jpqYt77n)
American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford pauses to reflect during a private tour of the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., April 15. Photo by Eric Kruszewski