Lynchburg to Mark Doughboy Statue's 100th Anniversary
The city will hold a centennial event at Monument Terrace on November 11 honoring the statue dedicated in 1926.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Military
Live Poll
Do you think your community should keep holding public events honoring war veterans?
Lynchburg will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Doughboy statue's dedication on November 11, 2026, at Monument Terrace. Veterans and residents plan to reenact the 1926 dedication program at the 11 a.m. event.
Why it matters
The statue commemorates 43 Lynchburg-area men who died in World War I, and the centennial offers local residents a chance to revisit that history. The planned reenactment ties the present-day community directly to the original 1926 ceremony.
The 1926 dedication drew about 15,000 spectators downtown, and the monument honors 43 men from the Lynchburg area who died in World War I. The number of attendees expected at the 2026 centennial has not been stated.
The players
Charles Keck
Charles Keck was an American sculptor who created the Doughboy statue in Lynchburg.
Councilman Faraldi
Councilman Faraldi reminded the city of the upcoming anniversary ahead of the event.
The details
The Doughboy statue at Monument Terrace, titled "A Soldier at a Listening Post," was made by American sculptor Charles Keck and dedicated on November 11, 1926. The statue replaced the Fireman's Fountain, which was moved to Miller Park in 1925, and the centennial event will reenact the original dedication program.
Timeline
November 11, 1926: The Doughboy statue was dedicated in downtown Lynchburg.
2001: Veterans began gathering at the base of the statue.
2014: The bayonet was broken off the statue in an incident.
November 11, 2026: The 100th anniversary event takes place at 11 a.m.
Legacy Context
The centennial reenacts the November 11, 1926 dedication of the Doughboy statue, which honored American infantrymen of World War I nicknamed "doughboys." The event continues a commemorative tradition that began when veterans started gathering at the statue's base in 2001.
Residents can attend the 11 a.m. centennial event at Monument Terrace on November 11, 2026. The reenactment offers a chance to see the 1926 dedication program recreated in downtown Lynchburg.
The takeaway
Local commemorations like this one keep records of World War I service visible for new generations. Attending in person is a direct way to learn the names and history behind the monument.
What happens next
The 100th anniversary event takes place at Monument Terrace on November 11, 2026, at 11 a.m., with a reenactment of the 1926 dedication program.
Further reading
Explore more military coverage to see how local communities mark wartime history.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NewsAdvance.
Live Poll
Do you think your community should keep holding public events honoring war veterans?
