128th first St. Louis Heroes, Home April 29, 1919 The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com
"With the American Forces in France, Monday, November 11-- Signal Corps wires, telephones, and runners were used in carrying the orders announcing that the armistice had been signed yesterday." St. Louis Post Dispatch, Tue, November 12, 1918, Page 1; Newspapers.com ("https://www.newspapers.com/image/138440560/" emphasis added)
The war was finally over. After years of fighting, families would be welcoming their boys back home. Even though the country was in the midst of fighting the Spanish Flu, it wouldn't stop them from giving the returning soldiers the long-awaited welcome they deserved. But they would have to work fast. Soldiers would be arriving in droves.
The First Court of Honor
Mayor Henry Kiel put together a Welcoming Committee "...for the purpose of arranging a reception for returning St. Louis Soldiers..." (Newspapers.com). The committee would consist of Edward Hidden, chairman, and Walter B. Weisenburger, secretary. There would also be other committees, such as the Finance Committee, the Scope and Plan Committee, and the Parade Committee. Their plans included erecting a Court of Honor on 12th Street for the soldiers to pass through during the parade. They would march as part of their units. Plans began in Mid-April as the soldiers were set to return home a few weeks after. So time was of the essence.
Entrance To Court of Honor on 12th St, April 25, 1919, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com
Transforming 12th St into Court of Honor, April 26, 1919, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com
Since there would obviously be a crowd to welcome the soldiers home, it was decided to build a grandstand to accommodate the relatives of the returning soldiers and other soldiers who could not march. Registration was required as only 10,000 seats were available in the grandstand section. More than 8,000 relatives registered to receive tickets.
Seats Reserved for Wounded and Relatives - Court of Honor April 28, 1919 St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com
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| "May 9, 1919 - Reviewing Stand on 12th Str.in Court of Honor, the day the 138th returned." William Peters Collection: Album 1 Identifier: P0821-01; Image 79 of 136 Missouri Historical Society |
The first to arrive would be the 128th Field Artillery of the 35th Division of the American Expeditionary Force. Soon after, the 138th St. Louis's Own was also released and would head home. The full Roster is here. The Court of Honor was ready in time to welcome the soldiers home. Read more about the day on Newspapers.com.
Roaring Cheers Welcome home 128th - Court of Honor April 29, 1919 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com.
All of 35th Division home, 89th released - Court of Honor April 28, 1919 The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com.
The Missouri Historical Society has quite a collection of photos from the parade. I recommend looking through the pictures. The links provided will take you to the different collections I reviewed and shared.
- Two Parade Photos - http://collections.mohistory.org/resource/412004
- William Peters Collection: Album 1 - http://collections.mohistory.org/resource/863444 (Parade Photos: Images 65-94)
- Search for more collections - https://mohistory.org/collections
The Memorial Tree Court of Honor
a.k.a. Kingshighway Memorial BoulevardSuch a memorable way to welcome home the soldiers who fought for freedom and defended our country. But what about those who gave the ultimate sacrifice? The ones who couldn't participate in the parade. The ones whose relatives wouldn't be able to hug upon their return. Shouldn't they be remembered?
In August 1920, the organization known as the National Memorial and Fraternal Association of World War Registrars, also referred to as The National Society of 1917, World War Registrars, was formed to provide comprehensive records for historical purposes and to erect suitable memorials for soldiers who lost their lives in war. Membership was open to relatives of war participants as well as others who wished to join. Over the next few months, many meetings were held to discuss how to honor these soldiers. During this time, a bond was passed to construct new highways. The organization proposed that the new highways be named after the Missouri heroes who died in the war.
Many meetings were planned to discuss the details for creating Gold Star Memorial Highways. Mrs. Frank DeGarmo, president of the World War Registrars Society, played a crucial role in raising awareness and engaging the community. She worked throughout Missouri (and other states), forming additional branches of the World War Registrars.
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| St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, Missouri Sunday, March 19, 1922 |
Kingshighway was already a well-established road traveled by many, and the 1917 War Registrars decided that the section between Penrose and Easton Avenues (Now Dr. Martin Luther King Drive) would be known as the Kingshighway Memorial Boulevard "Court of Honor," where World War I soldiers would be honored. Although it's unclear why Kingshighway (aka King's Highway) was chosen, it likely had to do with its being a divided highway with green patches in the middle, perfect for planting trees for the memorials. The plans began in 1921 with the idea of planting trees on Arbor Day in memory of soldiers across the country. Using an existing road saved money. So it was decided and confirmed in early 1922.
The first set of trees (about 300) was set to be planted on Arbor Day, April 7, 1922. The 1917 World War Registrars, the American Legion Auxiliary, and many other groups collaborated to create a special memorial. At the time, they had identified 999 soldiers who lost their lives in World War I who would be memorialized on Kingshighway. The plan was to place solid brass stars, dipped in gold, on the trees bearing the name, organization, and date of death of each soldier, marine, and sailor who died. The trees would have to be planted over time, and the gold stars would also take time to create. Mayor Kiel issued a statement encouraging all citizens to attend the Arbor Day ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by more than 300 people, most of them women honoring their family members. The trees planted included green oaks, European sycamores, and sweetgums. Only some of the gold stars were ready to be placed at the time of the ceremony. Their hopes were that the gold stars would become embedded in the trees as they grew. And if a tree were to die, it would be replaced by the Gold Star Mothers. Over the next few days, the Forestry Department planned to plant 700 trees between the curb and the sidewalk on each side.
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| Photos of the Dedication Ceremony Kingshighway Memorial Boulevard Gold Star Mothers and World War Registrars along with other organizations were in attendance 7 April 1922 Photos: stl-lestweforget.org | |||
Over the next few years, the Gold Star Mothers would make a "Pilgrimage" to Kingshighway to decorate the trees and honor the fallen soldiers. They originally planned to organize it on Memorial Day, but changed it to Flag Day to avoid conflicts with other commitments. It would take approximately 10 years for all the trees to finally be planted. They even extended the court of honor from Penrose to Florissant (which ends at Bellefontaine Cemetery) to accommodate more trees and plaques as more soldiers were identified, including some women who were serving as nurses at the time.
In 1924, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Filley donated a flagpole to the city of St. Louis to be placed at the entrance to the court of honor in memory of their son, John D. Filley Jr., who was killed in action during World War I. It was dedicated on the sixth anniversary of Armistice Day. 2,500 people attended the ceremony honoring the fallen soldier. A bronze plaque bearing John D. Filley Jr.'s name was placed at the base of the flagpole.
Memorial Flag raised - Court of Honor, November 12, 1924, St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri), Newspapers.com.
A few years later, it was decided they would replace the brass gold stars with circular bronze stars. They were to be placed in concrete at the base of the trees. Their goal was to create a more permanent, stable memorial for each soldier, including more information, such as the soldier's cause of death. They also hoped it would deter theft, but that didn't happen.
In September 1929, Mrs. Frank De Garmo reported to the police that 40 markers had been stolen from Kingshighway, not all at once but over time. Only 400 of the over 1000 markers had been placed. It appears thieves were stealing brass stars (the original ones) to sell for gold and/or brass. A Cleveland company received one of the stars that had been junked and returned it.
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| 1930 ED Map of St. Louis Genealogy in St. Louis - Genealogy Village Map pieced together from multiple files and labeled by Auntie Jen The Court of Honor started at Easton and originally stopped at Penrose Later, it was extended to Florissant, which ended at Bellefontaine Cemetery |
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| Blueprint of a portion of the Kingshighway Memorial Boulevard and Gold Star Tree Court of Honor 1920-1930 Source: Missouri Historical Society *Note: American Legion Post 15 has copies of the blueprints on display |
The New Court of Honor
During this time. St. Louis underwent some changes. In 1925, the Memorial Plaza Commission was established to improve and construct new, impressive buildings downtown. A bond issue was passed to help with this improvement. This would include a new courthouse and a memorial to the soldiers who fought and died in World War I (both of which still stand today). (Missouri History Museum Collection) Construction on the memorial downtown wouldn't start until 1935. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was so impressed and came to St. Louis for a dedication ceremony on October 14, 1936. 75,000 attended the ceremony at the plaza to welcome the president. Soldiers' Memorial was completed and opened to the public in May 1938. The court of honor that everyone recognizes today would come later.
Roosevelt Dedicates Memorial Here - October 2 14, 1936 The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com
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| Memorial Plaza, looking west towards Soldiers Memorial, Union Station and Kiel Memorial. May 16 1940 St. Louis, Missouri Missouri History Museum http://collections.mohistory.org/resource/153209 |
For years, the World War Registrars continued to raise funds to care for the Kingshighway Court of Honor, and the Gold Star Mothers continued their pilgrimages to honor their Soldiers Dead. Then the unthinkable happened. Tensions were rising in Europe once again, and in 1939, Germany invaded Poland, triggering the start of another World War. While the United States attempted to remain neutral, they were thrust into the thick of it when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. By the end of the war, over 400,000 Americans lost their lives; approximately 2,000 from St. Louis.
In July 1944, it was decided to add a Court of Honor to Memorial Plaza across the Street from Soldiers' Memorial. It would be dedicated to the servicemen and women who lost their lives in World War II. They would break ground almost a year later, in May 1945. Work would continue for a few years as the Memorial Committee worked to gather all the names of the St. Louisans who lost their lives as a result of the war. More than 2,000 names were added to the Memorial. The plaza would be unveiled to the public in June 1948 by Gen. Jonathan Wainwright.
War Dead Honored; Memorial Plaza Monument unveiled  |
| Aerial view of Soldiers Memorial with Memorial Plaza Square Identifier: P0197-S02-00353 - Missouri Historical Society 1960 |
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| Framed Photographs and Program of the Court of Honor Dedication at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum Identifier: SM1950-005-0001 - Missouri Historical Society 1948 |
What About The Original Court of Honor?
Just like the fate of World War I, the original Court of Honor gradually faded into obscurity after World War II, replaced by the new Court of Honor established at Soldiers Memorial. Pilgrimages would still be held by the Gold Star Mothers, and flags would still be placed on the Memorial, but fewer and fewer people would attend the celebrations. Then the march of progress threatened the plaques on Kingshighway Memorial Boulevard.
In 1960, a new highway was being constructed that would run right through Kingshighway Boulevard between Penrose St. and Florrisant Ave. The talks began in 1950 with three proposed expressway routes, including the "Mark Twain Expressway," now known as Highway 70. The three routes were proposed to help address traffic issues and reduce travel times to and from downtown St. Louis. City councilmen discussed the options, benefits, costs, and details for a few years before construction began. This was not supported by all. Many residents expressed concern about the destruction of more than 2,500 houses to make room for the expressway, and that it would literally tear the city in two, making it difficult for cars to travel on smaller streets and for pedestrians. There were many discussions and disagreements about the plans. Changes were made to attempt to reduce the demolition of homes that would displace many St. Louisans. Even after the approved changes, it would still cut through Kingshighway Boulevard in between Penrose and Lillian, destroying the Court of Honor in the process.
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| St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 18, 1951, Page 8 Newspapers.com The blue circle is where the Mark Twain Expressway will cross Kingshighway (Yellow line), destroying that section |
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| St. Louis Globe-Democrat April 20, 1960 |
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 8, 1960, Page 1
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This angered me so much to read this article. This wasn't the first time history was almost destroyed in the name of progress. The Bissell Mansion was also almost destroyed as it was in the path of the original plan. The Missouri Historical Society and Landmarks of America stepped up and preserved the building. As I stated above, it's sad that no one took notice of the Court of Honor's destruction until afterward. At this time, only about 100 plaques were removed, and a few trees were cut down. No one knew for sure where they were moved or stored. The rest of the Memorial was still intact. For now...
Between 1976 and 1982, construction crews were planning to remove (relocate, they claimed) between 500 and 900 plaques. Many were damaged or discarded. So Rollo-Calcaterra American Legion Post 15 stepped up to save the plaques. Skip Berger, along with other members of Post 15, spent many weekends locating and digging up the remaining plaques, even using metal detectors to locate those not visible to the naked eye. They knew they would need a new home, but the question they couldn't answer at the time was, "Where?" There were talks about moving the plaques to the Soldiers' Memorial Court of Honor at Memorial Plaza (especially since the Soldiers' Memorial Museum was dedicated to the World War I dead). Still, it was opposed by the city and two World War II vets, stating that the Court of Honor at Memorial Plaza was only for World War II veterans who had passed during the war. Interestingly enough, today, that same Court of Honor is now for ALL soldiers who died in war.
After much discussion, no agreement could be reached, so the plaques would be placed in storage in the basement of the Soldiers' Memorial Museum. They figured that would be the safest place for them until a decision could be made on where their final home would be. The current curator at Soldiers' Memorial told them the plaques still belonged to Post 15; they were just storing them. This is important.
During this time, the youngest mayor in St. Louis history was elected in 1981: Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. He was the 42nd Mayor of St. Louis and served for three terms until 1993. Somewhere during his term as mayor, he made some decisions that weren't sitting right with St. Louisans. In the name of progress, of course, he had three historical buildings torn down: The Buder building, the Title Guaranty building, and the International building. Buildings that qualified to go on the National Register of Historic Buildings. In place of these buildings, only one was built: Gateway One (known today as The Peabody). The reasons the mayor gave for why more buildings weren't erected included the economy and the fact that voters rejected bond issues to pay for them... twice. This was all documented in newspaper articles. But one story wasn't. One that threatened the bronze plaques' safety.
On April 3, 2026, I had the opportunity to visit American Legion Post 15 located on The Hill. (A unique neighborhood located in St. Louis that was primarily settled by Italian immigrants) Post Commander Dominic Curcuru talked with me about Post 15's efforts to preserve the plaques and showed me some photos from their collection. Sometime after the 1980s, the plaques were moved from Soldiers' Memorial to an undisclosed location, which I knew about, but I didn't know why. During my visit, Commander Curcuru told me the real reason why the plaques had to be moved out of Soldiers' Memorial. According to the American Legion website, the plaques were "in danger of being discarded". Commander Curcuru told me Mayor Shoemehl learned of the plaques stored in the basement of Soldiers' Memorial. And he had plans to take them, melt them down, and sell them for money.
I understand why this wasn't mentioned! Fortunately, the curator of Soldiers' Memorial Museum informed Skip Berger of the mayor's plans. He quickly took action by renting a Ryder truck and getting help from his brothers at the post to remove the plaques. To keep them safe, he stored them in his garage but kept this secret from everyone except those who assisted him. That’s why newspaper articles reported that they either didn't know where the plaques were or that they were kept in an "undisclosed location." And there they would be safe.
"These plaques are made to be seen." - Skip Berger
The Future Home of the Plaques
Nothing was mentioned about the plaques for 20 years when they were brought out of storage to be displayed at Jefferson Barracks County Park for Memorial Day in 2008. More than 400 were on display in the Old Ordinance Room, the Visitor's Center, and the Powder Magazine. Skip Berger was still the caretaker of the plaques. "They are grave markers. Each represents someone who died for his country." Mr. Berger and Post 15 were working to find a new permanent place to display these plaques. You can read more about it in this St. Louis Post-Dispatch article and in the articles below from the Java Journal, a local publication.
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| Memorial Day Revisited, A Fitting Return By: Mary K. Morgan Java Journal - May 2008 Page 8 Repository: American Legion Post 15 |
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| Lest We Forget by Mary K. Morgan Java Journal - November 2008 Page 8 Repository: American Legion Post 15 |
While the plaques were temporarily on display, plans were being discussed and developed for a more permanent home. During this time, work was being completed at the Chapel at Jefferson Barracks. Mr. Berger met with Bob Winters, a local architect, to discuss their plans for the Memorial. Several designs were proposed by Mr. Winters and submitted to the National Cemetery Association, but all were rejected. Finally, after some back-and-forth, plans were drawn up, and a new location at the cemetery was chosen. They submitted the plans and waited for a year for the response.
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| Bob Winters presents plans to Post 15 January 2010 Photos provided by American Legion Post 15 |
"A new design was developed that would gather all of the remaining plaques and the names of the missing plaques into two granite walls situated on a concrete plaza and surrounded by trees that would be symbolic of the trees planted beside each plaque on Kingshighway. Two columns would hold the story of the plaques, a map of Kingshighway and the emblem of the American Legion. The site was to be part of a path the cemetery had created for memorials." - American Legion
This design finally received approval. The first hurdle was overcome. Now, on to the next hurdle: the money. They estimated it would cost $250,000 to complete the project. For an organization that ran entirely on donations, this was going to take a while. Or so they thought. While Post 15 set up a donation fund to help with the costs, Al Katzenberger, a member of the Jefferson Barracks Chapel Association who has been helping with the planning process, discovered a grant program through the St. Louis County Economic Development that would provide funds to any organization that wanted to improve the area where the cemetery was located. The money was being provided by the Port Authority and Development Board. So in May 2011, they submitted an application for the grant to cover the construction costs. They didn't have to wait long for a response. By August, the grant had been approved. The construction costs would be covered... FULLY! But they would have to move fast. The grant stipulated the funds would have to be used in a year, starting in October 2011. Construction documents were prepared, the VA reviewed them, and approval was secured. The groundbreaking ceremony happened in May 2012.
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| Groundbreaking Ceremony photos May 2012 On display at American Legion Post 15 |
Construction started immediately while the plaques were organized, numbered, and shipped to Cold Springs Granite in Minnesota to be encased in thick granite slabs. Orf Construction handled excavation, sewer piping, grading, concrete pouring, planting, and, upon arrival, installing the granite columns and walls. Skip Berger and Post 15 supervised the whole process and even participated in some of the work.
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| "Once the craftsmen found out what they were building, their attitude changed, and they took such care and pride in the construction of the memorial." - Bob Winters | ||
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| Photos are from American Legion Post 15 They were all taken during construction in 2012 |
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The last piece of granite was installed in Mid-September, just in time for a grand reveal celebration at the end of September. The dedication ceremony was scheduled for September 30, which just happened to be Gold Star Mother's Day. (The last Saturday of September) A fitting day to dedicate this Memorial, since they were instrumental in creating the original Court of Honor on Kingshighway.
The ceremony was beautiful. At least from what I could tell from the pictures and the articles I read. More than 200 people were in attendance, including Undersecretary Steve Muro, who flew in from Washington, D.C. It was later learned that he had been instrumental in securing the project's approval in Washington. (Thank you, Mr. Muro!) Mr. Skip Berger was the Master of Ceremonies for the celebration, and speakers included Gold Star Mothers, Bob Winters, and others who were instrumental in completing this project.
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| Program from Dedication Ceremony Original held at American Legion Post 15 |
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Photos from American Legion Post 15 Taken on the day of the dedication ceremony September 30, 2012 |
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| Rebuilding a Court of Honor By Cameran Richardson American Legion Dispatch Vol. 23, No. 8 April 2013 Page 1, 5 |
This was it! They finally had a home. Ninety years after the Kingshighway Court of Honor was established. They had a home that would be cared for perpetually. No more worrying about whether or not the memorial would be destroyed. Commander Curcuru told me that the granite company still helps with repairs when necessary. For example, if a plaque comes loose, they send someone down from Michigan to do the repairs onsite. How wonderful! And even though many plaques were destroyed, they honored the men by engraving their names in the granite.
I have visited the memorial personally. The first time was for the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. I didn't even know the memorial existed until I went to the grand reopening of Soldiers' Memorial Museum. During my visit, I found a computer that allowed me to look up my Great-Grand Uncle. That's when I learned about the Memorial and that his plaque had NOT been destroyed but was embedded in the granite. I decided right then and there that I would be making a trip to Jefferson Barracks to see the memorial.
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Photos from my personal collection November 11, 2018 |
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"We owe a deep gratitude to the St. Louis Gold Star Mothers and the Rollo-Calcaterra American Legion Post 15 for their many years of dedicated service and tireless efforts to find a permanent and everlasting home for this historic memorial, " said Jeff Barnes, director of JB. "We were deeply honored to be selected as the cemetery to host this beautiful and historic memorial. This memorial will be maintained in perpetuity at this historical national cemetery."
Honestly, I couldn't agree more with Mr. Barnes. I am very grateful for this post, the members who worked so hard to make this memorial a reality, and the efforts that went into preserving these plaques for close to 50 years. Interestingly, the year this memorial was installed was the same year I began my genealogical journey. And I didn't know this memorial existed until the grand reopening of the Soldiers' Memorial Museum.
Like other people, I too didn't know about my relative who served and died in World War I. He did not exist in my mind, nor did any of our family know about his sacrifice. He was forgotten. What a tragedy! To give your life in service for your country, and not even your own family remembers. Not anymore. I went on a journey to get to know my Great-Grand Uncle (as much as I could) so I could write his story on this blog. That way, the family would never forget. I shared the link to his story at the beginning of this blog post, so please take a moment (if you haven't already) to scroll up and click it to read his story.
Final Thoughts
One of the stories shared concerned Emilio Rollo, one of the men the post is named after. He was originally from Italy. He served in Europe first, then came to America and served over here. Sadly, he died in World War I, and he was buried in Italy. His family did not know much about his life in the States, so they began to research. They were ecstatic to learn there was a post named after him and contacted the post. They were able to fill in details about his life in the States and even surprised the family in Italy with a bronze plaque bearing his name. It is now proudly displayed on Emilio's headstone in Italy.
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Since the post is about four miles from where the Kingshighway Court of Honor stood, I decided to drive the Boulevard myself to see what it looked like today. I knew changes had been made throughout the years, but many green patches in the center still existed today. So I was able to see where the plaques would have been located. And there are still many trees decorating the central blocks. I don't know if they are the same trees that were planted originally or not. But it was neat to see where the memorial used to be located. I also got to drive over the area they redeveloped when Highway 70 came through. Drive with me through the area below.
I will finalize this post with a few more photos and videos, along with the source information. Thank you for taking the time to read this all the way to the end. I know there was a lot of information here. I have also taken the time to type up the names of those engraved on the memorial at Jefferson Barracks. If you ever get the opportunity to visit, Jefferson Barracks has many museums and memorials in the park, including the Missouri Civil War Museum and the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum. They also hold many events at Jefferson Barracks. But in the midst of all of this, take a moment and stop by the World War I Memorial and pay your respects to those who died while serving their country. And maybe while you are there, you might hear Taps playing in the background. The last time I was there, I did. And I just cried.
Photos, Videos, and More
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| Partial Map of Jefferson Barracks Cemetery WWI Memorial is located on the Memorial Walk |
 Gold Star Court of Honor Banner Identifier: SMX02446 |
 Kingshighway Boulevard St. Louis Public Library |
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| 1917 World War Registrars Documents Provided by Dennis Northcott, Archivist Missouri Historical Society - Library and Research Center |
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This is the first time I visited the World War I Memorial at Jefferson Barracks in honor of my Great-Grand Uncle, William Ilg. It was the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
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| Brochure about the WWI Memorial American Legion Post 15 | |
American Legion Post 15
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| Invitation for Dedication Ceremony American Legion Post 15 |
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City maintain memorial flag pole Apr 10, 1946 The St. Louis Star and Times (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com
The flagpole appears to still be on Kingshighway just north of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (formerly Easton Ave)
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| John D. Filley Flag Pole April 3, 2026 |
Sources
Newspapers.com
This site was a huge source of information for my research. All the articles I clipped and shared above are from this site. I am not going to relist all the clippings here, but I will provide the search terms I used for you to look them up. These are all the names I found that referred to the Court of Honor in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Kingshighway Court of Honor
- King's Highway
- Court of Honor Tree Memorial
- Gold Star Court of Honor
- Memorial Court
- Gold Star Tree Court of Honor
- Kingshighway Memorial Boulevard
- Gold Star Markers
Missouri Historical Society
The MHS was a great resource as well. They are comprised of the History Museum, Historical Society, Library and Research Center, and Soldiers' Memorial Museum. I've had the privilege of visiting all of these locations. The links below are from their online collections.
- History of Soldiers' Memorial Museum: https://mohistory.org/memorial/history-of-soldiers-memorial-military-museum
- History of Court of Honor in Memorial Plaza: https://mohistory.org/blog/court-of-honor
- William Peters Collection: Album 1, Identifier: P0821-01 (Most of the photos I used from the parade came from this collection) http://collections.mohistory.org/resource/863444
- More parade photos: https://mohistory.org/collections/item/f8508
- Soldiers' Memorial: http://collections.mohistory.org/resource/855040
- Dedication of Court of Honor at Memorial Plaza: https://mohistory.org/collections/item/SM1950-005-0001
- Dennis Northcott, Archivist at Library and Research Center: archives@mohistory.org
American Legion
The American Legion provided a great deal of information about the World War I Memorial at Jefferson Barracks and the history of the Kingshighway Memorial Court of Honor. This led me to the Rollo-Calcaterra Post 15, where they had many items not available online. I suggest visiting this post to see the items for yourself.
- Original Website for the Court of Honor: https://web.archive.org/web/20180902152451/http://stl-lestweforget.org/index.html (It's no longer an active site, so you have to go through Wayback Machine)
- Rebuilding a Court of Honor: https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/honor/2013/april/rebuilding-a-court-of-honor
- World War I Court of Honor Memorial: https://www.legion.org/memorials/united-states/missouri/united-states-missouri-world-war-i-court-of-honor-memorial
- Rollo-Calcaterra Post 15: https://www.americanlegionpost15.com/
Other Sources
These are sources from many different repositories and websites. They provided history and context to better understand the subject.
- St. Louis Public Library Kingshighway Court of Honor: https://www.instagram.com/p/Czd_BXMOYOf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
- State Historical Society of Missouri Kingshighway Court of Honor and Gold Star Mothers: https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/51749/rec/1
- History of Kingshighway: https://www.distilledhistory.com/kingshighway/
- Kingshighway Plan: https://stlouispatina.com/kingshighway-plan/
- The Good Roads in Missouri Movement: https://missouriencyclopedia.org/groupsorganizations/good-roads-movement-missouri
- 1930 Enumeration District Map of St. Louis: https://stlouis.genealogyvillage.com/1930.htm
- Wikipedia - Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_C._Schoemehl
- Lafayette Square Archives - Mayor Henry Kiel: https://lafayettesquarearchives.com/1917-the-life-and-times-of-mayor-henry-kiel/
- St. Louis and The Great Way by Patrick Allie: https://www.amazon.com/St-Louis-Great-Patrick-Allie/dp/1883982944
- A Brief History of Gold Star Mothers: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Blog/Post/12728/A-Brief-History-of-Gold-Star-Mothers-and-Family-s-Day
- Legends of America, Bissell Mansion: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-bissellmansion/
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