April 6, 1917 -- United States declared war on Germany.

Among the various military branches of service, the 42nd United States Infantry Division was organized. The 42nd Division is more popularly known as the "Rainbow Division"; composed of men from 26 states and the District of Columbia.

In the make-up of the Rainbow Division, Kansas was assigned the Ammunition Train. (Kansas National Guard.) In June 1917, twelve truck companies were recruited throughout the State of Kansas to make-up the 117th Ammunition Train. The first six companies were recruited in Rosedale, Kansas on top of Mt. Marty. Recruits wee from Rosedale, Kansas City, Missouri and surrounding communities.

Maj. General Flagler's General Orders No. 21-K commends the Rainbow Division for their service and the service of the 117th Ammunition Train. "The 117th Ammunition Train has a magnificent record and Kansas may well be proud of her representation in the Rainbow Division."

November 11, 1918 ..... ARMISTICE DAY. The end of fighting in World War I.

May 12, 1919 ..... Rosedale welcomed the returning Veterans. The streets were decorated with Rainbow colors. Johnson County, Miami County and surrounding communities shared in the "Welcome Home" celebration.

A resolution passed by mayor Shelby H. Rennick and the City Council changing the name of Westport Road, also known as Hudson Road to Rainbow Boulevard. "Said name to remain Rainbow Boulevard forever in honor of the Rosedale boys who gave their lives in France and those who saw service there."

On the Wyandotte County Roll of Honor in Memorial Hall, two Rosedale Veterans names are inscribed:

William A. Davis, 117th Ammunition Train
Died of Wounds Oct. 11, 1918

Bert L. Newton, Corp., 338 Bakery Co. 164 Dep. Brg.
Died in France July 9, 1919

The Committee on State Affairs introduced in the House of Representatives (1919), "An Act authorizing and empowering various counties and municipalities of Kansas to erect military Memorials .. to issue bonds .. and levy a tax to pay for such bonds .."

The citizens of Rosedale were desirous of erecting a memorial to those from Rosedale who served in the Great War "to commemorate their valorous achievements."

In accordance with the law on Military Memorials, a petition was presented to the Mayor and City Council requesting a bond election. A special election was held June 21, 1921 for "Voting on the establishment of a memorial park and the erection of an Arch at its entrance." "The improvement will cost $25,000. For which bonds are to be issued ..."

The vote carried by a large majority. A committee was appointed to prepare plans for the Military Memorial. The committee was composed of Frank Rushton, Dr. O.M. Longenecker, Dr. B.M. Barnett, Otto Zieglemeyer, Rolla Duncan and Henry C. Alwes.

The committee proposed the purchase of a tract of land on Mount Marty north of 36th and Springfield "to lay out an athletic field 150 feet by 290 feet on the tract, erect a stone arch as an entrance to the field and some day convert the rest of the land into a memorial park, with proper utilitarian facilities and embellishment."

John LeRoy Marshall, a Rosedale Legionnaire, designed the Rosedale Memorial Arch. While in France, he sketched many scenes; a number of the sketches were of the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.

Mr. Marshall's delineation of the Rosedale Memorial Arch has been described as a monument of "Classic Proportions." The Rosedale Arch is to be built of cut Limestone blocks. The "Classic Proportions":

"It is to be 34 feet six inches high. 25 feet 5 inches wide. The Archway to be 20 feet high and 10 feet wide.

The pillars are to be 7 feet square at the base - 6 feet square throughout most of the height."

On the front of the Arch will be a large inscription tablet cut in stone. The tablet is twelve feet long and three feet high. The inscription: "Erected by the people of Rosedale in honor of its citizens who answered their country's call and served under arms for the triumph of right over might in the World War."

This picture is of the original delineation of the Rosedale Memorial Arch that appeared in the Program of the Ground Breaking Ceremonies conducted by Rosedale Post No. 346 of The American Legion, July 20, 1923. Mr. Marshall's picture also appeared in this program.

April 24, 1922, Rosedale City Attorney L.R. Gates filed a petition for the appointment of Appraisers in Condemnation Proceedings to acquire a site for a military memorial in the City of Rosedale, Kansas. Frank Rushton, O.M. Longenecker and B.M. Barnett were appointed Commissioners.

The land taken for this purpose was in Marty's High School Park, an Addition in Rosedale, Kansas. This property was originally purchased as 21 lots for $10,000. This land has also been described as 5.2 Acres.

The Rosedale Council passed an ordinance for the issuance of Special Improvement Bonds in the amount of $25,000.00. Before the bonds were issued or sold, the city of Rosedale, Kansas was consolidated with Kansas City, Kansas. After consolidation, there was the question of the validity of the bond election.

Representative L.R. Gates, Wyandotte County, introduced legislation authorizing and directing the issuance of the military memorial bonds by "cities of the first class, with which there has been consolidated a city of the second class."

July 19, 1923, the Commissioners made legal the issuance of bonds for the "purpose of establishing a park as a Military Monument in the City of Kansas City, Kansas (in that portion formerly known as Rosedale, Kansas.)" The entire issue of bonds were sold to A.H. Gillis and Company, Kansas City, Kansas.

In the spring of 1923, General Henri Joseph Eugene Gouraud was visiting the United States.

General Gouraud, one of the most decorated heroes of France. He spent 20 years in Africa fighting in the jungles and desert. General of the Fourth Army of France under whom the 117th Ammunition Train and the 117th Signal Battalion of the Rainbow Division served in World War I.

Long before the ground-breaking date was set, "it became the dream of Rosedale men who fought under General Gouraud to have him here for the ground-breaking ceremony."

>Under the leadership of John B. Smith and the Rosedale American Legion Post #346 the initial plans and preparations were begun.

Arrangements were made for the General to visit Kansas City as guest of the Veterans of the Rainbow Division and to participate in the ground-breaking ceremonies of the Rosedale Memorial Arch. 

A project of this magnitude required much detailed planning and delegation of responsibilities to committees.

General Henri Joseph Eugene Gouraud and party arrived at the Union Station at 7:30 a.m. July 20, 1923 in his private car "Berwick."

The General was greeted amid the French and American flags that adorned the lobby of the station and the martial call of trumpets and roll of drums, "flourishes and ruffles", by the Wyandotte Post American legion Drum and Bugle Corps. A group of French people from Greater Kansas City also greeted the General.

Escorted by five motorcycle patrolmen, John B. Smith, General chairman and the Reception Committee, accompanied the General and his party to the Grund Hotel, 6th and Ann Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas for Breakfast at 8:15 a.m. with Veterans of the 42nd Division (Rainbow Division) and members of the Reception Committee.

M. George Mignolet, French Consul to Kansas City acted as an interpreter with Lieut. DeVibray Brays, French Army-Aide.

In the Motorcade to the Hotel, the ten Lincoln cars carried the distinguished guests. Among those in the Motorcade:

Col. Wm. H. Hughes	Chief of Staff of the 42nd Division (Rainbow Division)
Col. Ruby D. Garrett	117th Signal Corp Battalion, 42nd Division (Missouri)
Col. Frank L. Travis	117th Ammunition Train (Kansas) 42nd Division
Adj. Gen. R. Neill Rahn	State of Kansas
Robert T. Newton	Commander of Rosedale American Legion Post #346
Maj. R.B. Paddock	Chief of Staff - (General Gouraud)
Maj. Arthur Budd	U.S.A. - assigned by the War Department for the Gouraud tour
Maj. John J. Mangin	Rainbow Veterans Association
Col. ______ Dumont	Military Attaché, French Embassy, Washington D.C.
Capt. C.E. McCullough	In charge of transportation
Lieut. Col. W.W. Bodine	Rainbow Veterans Association
Maj. Gen. G.B. Duncan	Commander Seventh Army Corps Area, Fort Omaha, Nebraska
Brig. Gen. H.A. Smith	Commandant Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Capt. W.P. McLean	State Commander, American Legion, Kansas

Mayor W.W. Gordon, Kansas City, Kansas declared a half-day holiday in honor of General Gouraud's visit and the Rosedale Memorial exercises. Mayor Frank Cromwell, Kansas city, Missouri issued a proclamation calling on the citizens and school children to honor General Gouraud by flying flags, attending the parade and the ground-breaking ceremonies.

(Note: This Parade took place several years before Seventh Street Trafficway was built. At that time, you had to go thru Kansas City, Missouri to get from Rosedale to Kansas City, Kansas.)

The Parade: The General and Party and Citizens crossed the Inter-City Viaduct (now Lewis and Clark Viaduct) to Grand Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. South to Pershing Road; West to Broadway then South thru Penn Valley Park. At 39th Street the parade of motor cars turned West.

At 39th Street and State Line, the other units of the parade had assembled. Joining the General's party were:

From Fort Leavenworth: The Infantry Band, Infantry and Artillery Details.

Rosedale American Legion Post #346 - Color Guard
Elmer J. Allen - 117th Ammunition Train
John Nolan - Navy

Detachment of Marines from the Recruiting Station

Rosedale Ex-Service Men
200 Rosedale Ex-Service Men were marshaled by Dr. C.E. Sanders

Standards of neighboring Legion Posts representing:

Rufus J. Montgall	Joseph Liebman
William F. Fitzsimmons	Peter Smith
William R. Nelson	Overland Park
Hewitt Swearingen	Wyandotte
Tank Corp 381	Olathe

A welcome arch with two inscriptions was erected on the line of march:

"CHAMPAGNE" -- 1918" and "ROSEDALE -- 1923"

A crowd of 6,000 had assembled for the services.

Louis R. Gates, of the Rosedale American Legion Post #346 and chairman of the program, presided at the ceremonies.

The Military Band played "The Star Spangled Banner" and "La Marsellaise." The audience sang "America." The invocation was by Rev. Anthony Dornseifer, Pastor, Holy Name Church.

Others on the platform included: Mayor W.W. Gordon, mayor Frank Cromwell, Col. E.C. Little, Senator Arthur Capper, Gov. Jonathan Davis, Brig. Gen. H.A. Smith, Maj. Gen. G.B. Duncan, Lt. H.D. Heitz, Wm. R. Baker, Frank J. Ryan, W.P. McLean, Wilder S. Metcalf, Col. Frank L. Travis, Gen. R. Neill Rahn, Col. Chas. Bowman, Maj. Arthur Budd, Robert T. Newton, J. LeRoy Marshall and John B. Smith.

The Benediction was by Rev. W.D. Kelly, Pastor, Walnut Street M.E. Church, South.

The weather was a good July day .. sunny and warm. The program was held amid the military atmosphere created by the presence of the many different colored uniforms .. the blue French uniforms .. the Khaki of the Doughboy .. the navy and the Marines; the martial music and the patriotic enthusiasm of the crow assembled to pay tribute to the French General and those from Rosedale who had served in the great World War.

A Salute of twenty-one guns was fired in honor of the General, who took his place in the speakers stand and the parade passed in review before him.

Mayor Gordon and Representative Little congratulated Rosedale for their tribute to the Veterans.

Mayor Cromwell also spoke about the Rosedale Memorial Arch and about the Kansas City, Missouri Memorial.

Senator Capper applauded the American legion that had charge of the program and their principles.

Governor Davis urged "that the principles of liberty for which the boys who died had fought be not forgotten."

Capt. W.P. McLean received an ovation when he expressed the fact that the American Legion backed-up France-s occupation of the Ruhr Valley.

John B. Smith, General Chairman, introduced General Gouraud. Following the General's speech, he went to the enclosure marking the site of the Arch and turned the first spade of earth.

The gold-plated spade used to turn the earth was presented to the Legion by George Gerner, a Rosedale grocer.

On the speakers stand were Veterans of three wars:

Civil War...	Capt. W.B. Gates, Ottawa, Kansas, served from 1862 to 1865. He was decorated for bravery in action.
Spanish-American...	William B. Trembley, (Postmaster of Kansas City, Kansas) served in the Philippines and received the Congressional medal of Honor.
World War...	Forrest M. Flannigan, Rosedale, who was decorated by General Haig with the British Medal of Honor. Lt. H.D. Heitz, Rosedale, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

The program concluded with the Ceremony of Retreat, the cannon salute and lowering of the French and American flags

Following the ground-breaking ceremonies, the General and his party were escorted to the French Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion for a short visit.

From the convent, they went to the Union Station where their train departed for Denver, Colorado.

The bonds having been sold and the ground-breaking ceremonies conducted, attention was turned to the task of constructing the Arch.

The purchase of the ground was completed August 1923. The work of constructing the Arch was under the supervision of Harry Kaelin, Park Commissioner, Kansas City, Kansas. On March 15, 1924, "Notice To Contractors" was published in the Kansas City KANSAN for sealed proposals. The contract was awarded to H.C. Readecker. Henry C. Readecker lived in Rosedale and was a contractor and stone mason.

On April 1, 1924, a committee from Rosedale American Legion Post #346 met with Harry Kaelin, Park Commissioner and George K. Grindrod, Engineer of the Park Department to decide the location of the Arch. The Legion Committee: Dr. Raymond Swinney, Chairman; Louis R. Gates, Miles Gates, J. LeRoy Marshall, Robert T. Newton and John B. Smith. Business Men: Frank Rushton, George Rushton, Sr., and E.R. Slater also met with the group.

The decision reached by the committee that: "The site of the Memorial Arch for the entrance to the memorial Park in Mount Mary Park in the Rosedale District would be at the North End of the park."

During the summer of 1924, the building of the Arch was completed.

Ceremonies for the unveiling and dedication of the Memorial Arch were held September 7, 1924, Sunday afternoon, at 3:00 p.m.

The Dedication Service Committee:

Rosedale American Legion Post #346: Robert T. Newton, Commander; J. LeRoy Marshall, John B. Smith, Carl Parker and Miles Gates.

The Citizens Committee: Frank Rushton, Dr. O.M. Longenecker and Dr. B.M. Barnett.

ROSEDALE MEMORIAL ARCH -- 1924

The Rosedale Memorial Arch was unveiled before a crowd of 2,500 citizens. While the 114th Cavalry Band played and the audience sang "America", Miss Camille Parker lifted the veil on the Arch.

When the Arch was unveiled, the 114th Cavalry Band and Service Troop of the Kansas National Guard, Kansas City, Kansas, were led thru the Arch by the flag and standard of the Rosedale American Legion Post #346 and then passed in review before General Smith.

Mayor W.W. Gordon spoke of the deeds of the Rosedale Veterans and acclaimed the tribute of the Rosedale Citizens to erect the Military memorial.

Frank Rushton, a member of the original Citizens Committee for the Memorial, spoke of the meaning of the Arch.

Brig. Gen. Harry A. Smith, Commandant Fort Leavenworth, delivered the principal address. He also lauded the action of the people of Rosedale in erecting the memorial in commemoration of those who served in the World War. General Smith also spoke on the National Defense Test Day and the importance of preparedness.

John B. Smith, on behalf of the Veterans, made an address of acknowledgment and acceptance and conveyed their appreciation of the Memorial.

In 1928 plans for the erection of a Stadium for the football field were started. One Section of the Stadium was completed and dedicated November 7, 1929. The dedication program centered on "The Stadium: An Impetus to Athletics; A Community Project; An Asset to Rosedale High School and An Addition to the Memorial Field."

In 1929 was the "Wall Street Crash" and the subsequent "Depression of the 30's." During the Depression, as a means of providing jobs, the Works Progress Administration - (W.P.A.) started a road from Rainbow Boulevard, west on Seminary up to High School Hill. This was a "pick and shovel: project. The road was not completed.

Other work relief projects included the building of the retaining wall around the field and a second section of the Stadium.

A rock wall, 750 feet long and lacking inches of being 22 feet high in places was built. The rock was quarried on the hill adjacent to the athletic field. The wall is fourteen feet wide at its base and is built on a sold rock foundation. The wall added 50 feet to the width of the field and was much longer after it was filled-in. (Date - 1935.)

An addition 150 feet long was built on the stadium, doubling the seating capacity.

View of Retaining Wall from Rainbow Boulevard

The years after the Dedication of the Arch brought about many changes. During the 30's there was not only a "Depressed Economy" but the people were "Depressed and Distressed." In 1934 there was a record drought and the "Dust Bowl" followed by short crops in 1935.

About the time the country was emerging from the Depression, World War II broke out. Young men and women were off to war and workers to war industries. Rationing and other related war-time conditions were foremost in the peoples thought. (World War II ... 1941 - 1945).

The Arch, due to the lack of conservation thru the years, became isolated in the over-growth of brush and weeds. Time and the elements contributed to the deterioration. Even the responsibility of the care and up-keep of the Arch was questioned.

Some of the persons active in the original Arch project moved from Rosedale. Death claimed others.

Several attempts were made by individuals and organizations to get the Arch and surroundings cleaned-up. June 1962, R.E. Jameson, a Rosedale barber and a member of the Kansas City, Kansas Planning Commission met with 14 representatives of business and patriotic organizations regarding the Arch.

A rehabilitation program was achieved by the City, the Board of Education, Veterans groups, private firms and individuals. Spot-lights were installed and the road gravelled. The Arch was rededicated to all veterans, Men and Women of all wards, Sunday, November 11, 1962.

In the years between 1962 and 1968 brought the University-Rosedale Urban Renewal Project and the proposal that the Arch be moved to the developing Recreation Center at 36th and Rainbow Boulevard. The move was rejected and renovation was favored. June 1968, a public-private cooperative renovation project was sponsored by the Rosedale Business Association - and the Kansas City, Kansas Street and Park Department. The project included cleaning the area, sand-blasting the Arch, new gravel access road from Booth Street and new sod. November 11, 1968 - The Lighting Ceremony: Two high intensity flood lights illuminating the arch were turned on.

The new concrete road and vantage point were completed in 1972 by the Kansas City, Kansas Street and Park Department. The new walkways and rest areas were added in 1974.