Statue Unveiling Monday, May 15, At Memorial Park In Midtown Mobile

The City of Mobile will host an unveiling of a World War I bugler statue at Memorial Park on Monday, May 15, at 1:30 p.m. The statue, designed by local sculptor Casey Downing, is the culmination of a revitalization effort that began in 2016 and an emblematic symbol of the Great War. In 2017, the Mobile chapter of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America began a push toward revitalization of the park. Through the nonprofit Stewards of Memorial Park, the group raised more than $300,000 to renovate the greenspace at the intersection of Airport Boulevard and Government Street. In 2017, the group teamed up with the City of Mobile to make more improvements to the park. The fountain was renovated, and lights were refurbished; the sidewalks around the park were rebuilt; and the trees were trimmed to improve the sightlines of the park, along with landscaping. Outside of the group’s master plan, there was a goal to raise funds to add the World War I bugler statue to the park, which has now come to fruition. Originally, the park was conceived by a group named The Mother’s Army and Navy League, which was organized in 1917. After World War I, the League voted to erect a suitable monument to honor Mobilians lost in the war. The site was chosen with help from the city, and after a number of years, $20,000 was raised. On March 21, 1926, the park, which had been designed by prominent architect George B. Rogers, was dedicated. “The Mobile community is encouraged to attend this city event to share civic pride and honor those men and women that served with purpose to ensure our freedom,” said Cammie Israel, patriotic service chairman of the Mobile chapter of the Colonial Dames. “Memorial Park is our history and heritage.”