Argonne Cross Memorial

The Argonne Cross Memorial is a war memorial featuring a white marble cross standing on a rectangular base with an inscription. It sits in Section 18 of Arlington National Cemetery and commemorates American soldiers who died during military service.

This memorial was dedicated in 1923 to honor American soldiers who died in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I in France. The original structure was accidentally destroyed in 1981 and replaced with a replica the following year.

The American Women's Legion created this memorial to honor fallen soldiers while also demonstrating their growing role in public life after gaining voting rights. It reflects how women became active in shaping how the nation remembered its service members.

The memorial is located within Arlington National Cemetery, a large cemetery with many monuments and graves you can visit. It helps to have a map or ask for directions, as the section can be easy to miss when walking through the grounds.

The cross standing here today is not the original but a marble replica created in 1982 after an accidental destruction. This fact reveals how even war memorials can undergo unexpected transformations while preserving their purpose.

GPS coordinates: 38.87156,-77.07559

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:43