Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday - WWI Servicemen

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James Bethel Gresham of Evansville

The first American soldier killed in France

In memory of the Soldiers and Sailors of

Vanderburgh County who made the supreme sacrifice

And further to commemorate the Patriot Fund of Vanderburgh County
Subscribed in 1918 by 25579 Citizens of said county to the amount of
$412,000. Dedicated November 11, 1923.

[This is a beautiful plaque that needs some serious cleaning! Click on photo to get a larger image. - JGWest]

- Photo taken & submitted by Don Counts, TSGS President

James Bethel Gresham

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James Bethel Gresham...

On 03 Nov 1917, he became the first American fatality for World War I. This Memorial Day weekend we should all remember all of our family that have gone before us, but we need to remember the soldiers who served our country and the many that gave their lives for the United States of America!

I apologize for the quality of these photos that I took at the Evansville Museum, but I hope it is good enough to show how a community can remember a fallen soldier.

Below is the Gresham home that is in Evansville Garvin Park. He is buried in Locust Hill Cemetery.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest