Follow the footpath east 400ft from the parking lot to the monument.

Monument
The monument is surrounded by vestiges of World War I trenches, dugouts and gun emplacements. It is essentially a tower of golden-yellow limestone with an observation tower on top affording an excellent view of the battlefields. Weather permitting, it is open daily. Inside the entrance to the monument is an inscription describing American operations in the vicinity. It commemorates the achievements of the 70,000 Americans who served in this region during the summer and fall of 1918. 

Engraving on the front of monument:

ERECTED BY THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO COMMEMORATE

THE ACHIEVEMENTS

OF HER SOLDIERS AND

THOSE OF FRANCE WHO

FOUGHT IN THIS REGION

DURING THE WORLD WAR

ERIGE PAR LES

ETATS-UNIS D'AMERIQUE

POUR COMMEMORER

LES HAUTS FAITS DE

LEURS SOLDATS ET

DES SOLDATS FRANÇAIS

QUI COMBATTIRENT EN

CETTE REGION PENDANT

LA GUERRE MONDIALE

Engraving on the inside of monument:

IN EARLY JULY 1918 THE 42D AMERICAN DIVISION ENTERED THE BATTLE LINES WITH THE 13TH AND 170TH FRENCH DIVISIONS NEAR SOUAIN.  THERE IT GALLANTLY ASSISTED IN REPELLING THE LAST GERMAN MAJOR OFFENSIVE OF THE WAR.

            WHEN THE ALLIES BEGAN THEIR GREAT CONVERGENT OFFENSIVE IN LATE SEPTEMBER, THE 2D AND 36TH AMERICAN DIVISIONS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE FRENCH FOURTH ARMY.  ON OCTOBER 3 THE 2D DIVISION, SUPPORTED ON THE LEFT BY THE 167TH, IN A BRILLIANT OPERATION CAPTURED BLANC MONT RIDGE ON WHICH THIS MONUMENT STANDS.  THE 36TH DIVISION RELIEVED THE 2D ON OCTOBER 10 AND CONTINUED THE ADVANCE NORTHWARD AS FAR AS THE AISNE RIVER.

THREE INFANTRY REGIMENTS OF THE 93D AMERICAN DIVISION, SERVING WITH THE 157TH AND 161ST FRENCH DIVISIONS, ENGAGED IN INTERMITTENT FIGHTING DURING SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER TAKING PART IN THE CAPTURE OF RIPONT, SECHAULT AND TRIERES FARM.

Info sign in the parking lot:

THE SOMMEPY-TAHURE AMERICAN MONUMENT

     The Sommepy Monument stands on the crest of Blanc Mont ridge, three miles north of Sommepy in the Department of the Marne.  The site on which the monument stands was captured by the American 2d Division of 3 October 1918, after heavy fighting.

     The monument commemorates the achievements of the 70,000 American soldiers who fought in the Champagne region of France during the summer and fall of 1918 and those of the French soldiers who fought with them.

     The monument is in the form of a tower, its sturdy though graceful shape harmonizing with the surrounding landscape.  The golden-brown stones of different shades on its exterior give it a very attractive appearance.

     Carved on the exterior walls are the dedicatory inscription and the insignia and names of the American Divisions which the monument commemorates with the inclusive dates that they served in this region and the names of four locations where each of the divisions participated in difficult fighting.

     The dedicatory inscription is carved in both English and French below the eagle on the front of the monument:

     Inside the tower, on a stone panel visible through the bronze grille of the door, is a brief description of the American operations in this vicinity.

     A flight of steps leads to an observation platform at the top of the structure where a fine view of the surrounding countryside is available and where directional arrows point out prominent terrain features.

     Architect for the monument is Arthur Loomis Harmon of New York, New York.  The dedication ceremony took place in 1937, year of the 20th anniversary of the United States' entry into World War I.