Our Gold Star Memorial in Bronze: Pompeo Coppini, Sr.

Coppini's Bronze

In 1923, the American War Mothers of Marshall County began fundraising for a monument dedicated to the 29 individuals who died during World War I.  Their plans were announced in May of 1923, but included just 26 names.  An additional three names were added to the roster by the time it was inscribed and dedicated in 1925.  It was announced that ground was broken for the monument on September 11, 1924.  The site, at the east entry to Oakhill Cemetery off Oakhill Drive, was donated by Harrie Buck and A. B. Wickizer.  This part of the cemetery was originally called Buck Cemetery.

Marshall County's "Gold Star Memorial" 1925

Five names stand out among those 29, at least for historical reasons.  Hannah Burden was a nurse who died from Spanish Influenza while treating soldiers at a military camp, and is the only woman counted among the war dead.  Charles Reeve of Plymouth, Otho Place of Bremen, William Fleet of Culver, and James Corey of Argos each had their hometowns honor them with naming their respective American Legion Posts after them.

Dedication inscription on back of the monument

The  monument was officially called the "Gold Star Memorial" when it was dedicated on May 25, 1925.  It was described as tall piece of light marble (actually granite) surmounted by a cross bearing suitable inscription and a bronze tablet.  The 16' tall monument is surrounded by small marble crosses bearing the names of the dead, each fitted with a flag, and is flanked by drives splitting off the main drive on axis with the memorial.

The woman depicted represents the Motherland laying a laurel wreath

The man depicted represents a young American offering himself for the protection of the Motherland

After several years of attending Memorial Day services at the monument, I became more and more intrigued with the bronze tablet recessed into the face of the monument.  The bas-relief is an extraordinary cast, heavy in Art Deco influence, and is one of very few pieces of sculpture in the county.  The other day I examined the tablet closely and found the artist's signature in the bottom right corner:  P. Coppini Sr.

I'm not well-versed in sculptors of this period, or any period.  So I googled Mr. (Pompeo) Coppini (1870-1957), and found that he had an extraordinary career.  The Italian-born American immigrated in 1896 with just $40.  He lived in Texas most of his life where his greatest works are located.  His depictions of George Washington also gained fame and were placed in cities even outside of the United States.  A foundation and museum is named for him and it occupies his former studio in San Antonio.  Maybe his most famous work is "Spirit of Sacrifice" or the Alamo Cenotaph, a work commemorating the defenders of the Alamo.  He was also commissioned to design the Texas Centennial Half Dollar in 1934.  His work is also displayed on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol, Texas A & M, and the University of Texas.

"Spirit of Sacrifice" Alamo Cenotaph by Coppini

But Plymouth, Indiana?  How did the American War Mothers chapter find Coppini and commission him to create this impressive bronze?  This aspect of the story remains a mystery.  Coppini was in Chicago for a few years where he was a member of a Rotary Club.  He traveled to Fort Wayne and Decatur, Indiana in 1920 promoting the idea of public sculpture, particularly related to Fort Wayne's pioneers.  He spoke at Rotary clubs in both of these cities.  Could Plymouth have also been a stop for Coppini?  It is believed that we are home to the only Coppini sculpture in Indiana.  The Plymouth Republican carried an announcement a few days prior to Memorial Day that the memorial would be dedicated and gave this description of the bronze:  "...representing a young American offering himself for the protection of the motherland from whom he is receiving a wreath of laurel.  This is a reproduction of the work of Pompeo Coppini, a noted sculptor of Chicago."  The description of the bronze sounds like the words of the sculptor describing his work.  If there is an official name to the sculpture, it is not part of the newspaper's account.  Also noted is that the paper calls this a reproduction.

I reached out to the Coppini Museum in Texas, and did my own on-line searches.  And I came up with a twin (the only one I could find) to our memorial located in  Jones Park, a downtown square in the middle of Canton, Illinois (southwest of Peoria).  It was dedicated on Veterans Day 1922.  Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses Grant Orendorff presented the monument to the citizens of Canton in Fulton County, Illinois to commemorate those who died in World War I.  I believe that the couple commissioned Coppini for this work given this description provided "the bronze figure represents a young man, an American citizen, shielding with his own body the motherland, America, and she is bestowing upon him a wreath of laurel.  The young man is not in the uniform of a soldier as that would typify militarism which the donors of the gift especially desire not to do."  Fulton County, Illinois lost 110 men in the war.  The monument appears to still be at their park.

This photo is dated 1926, but it would accurately depict the scene of the Plymouth dedication a year prior, with Scouts and Vets standing side-by-side

The dedication of our monument had much fanfare on Memorial Day, May 25, 1925.  The unveiling was witnessed by a large crowd from all over Marshall County.  General Gignilliat, superintendent of Culver Military Academy, provided the main address.  The Academy's Black Horse Troop, military band, and a detachment of cadets with full presentation of colors and flags of the allies were present in a march that led to the monument.  Also in the convoy to the monument were the American War Mothers, in automobiles, Civil War Veterans (most in their 80s), Boy Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls.  This must have been quite a scene.  The ceremony was concluded with firing a salute and playing of taps.