Ribbon, Commemorative
Object number2018.55.2
Datec. 1922
MediumSilk; Paint
Credit LineGift of John C. McMichael
DescriptionOff-white silk ribbon. Rectangular with pointed bottom corners. Front has blue military insignia of the 80th Division at top comprised of a shield containing three mountains; below insignia is blue text.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 6 x 2.063 x 0.032 in. (15.2 x 5.2 x 0.1 cm)Depth (Due to planar distortion): 0.75 in. (1.9 cm)
InscriptionsFront has blue text "WELCOME / HOME / OUR / BOYS / OF THE / 80th / DIVISION".
Historical NotesWilliam Vance Hays was killed during World War I at the Battle of the Argonne Forest in September 1918. Immediately after his death Hays was buried in a small cemetery in France called Les-Islettes. Then, the French, wanting their land returned to agricultural and industrial use, decided that the smaller cemeteries dotting its countryside needed to be consolidated into larger memorial cemeteries. In April 1919, Hays was moved to the larger Meuse-Argonne Cemetery. In September 1922, at the request of his family, Hays was shipped home, and buried in the Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Imperial, Pennsylvania.
Related person
William Vance Hays
(died 1918)
Related institution
80th Division
Subjects
On View
Not on view
1939-1945
c. 1944
1939-1945
1945