As to how a monument can get lost, well -- Back when the (former) State Capitol Bldg, uptown, which had become the Sangamon Co. Bldg, was torn down, stone by stone, and a huge excavation dug beneath that block-sized site for several tiers of parking, AND the IL State Historical Library, they had to move all the markers, stones, signs, etc. that had been placed on that block of land. The granite stones of the building were numbered one by one as they came down, so they could be put back up in exactly the same positions. The stones, while the parking tiers, Library, etc., were being constructed, were stored at the IL State Fairgrounds. Several years later, the building was reconstructed, just as it had been when Lincoln made his House Divided speech there, but without the 1-story bottom level that the county had added when THEY took it over. The street south of the block was closed and a small court was erected to place all the markers on stone or concrete pillars, so they could be saved, and read. However, years later, someone found another marker, one that had, I believe, been placed by the Springfield Chapter of DAR, in the weeds behind some buildings on the Fair Grounds. I believe members of the DAR retrieved the marker and placed it in an appropriate place, but I'm not sure just where., Nor do I know what marker it was. I am by copy of this email, sending this info to Mrs. Wm. Thomas, a past Regent of Spfld. Chapter, who can perhaps answer at least one of the questions about a "lost" marker or memorial. It was not a huge monument such as the VietNam or Korean monuments at Oak Ridge, but was very important, nevertheless. I hope this answers at least one question - although perhaps not the one about a marker for WW I - I'm pretty sure there was NOT a MONUMENT to WWI, but the DAR was very good at markers on which were listed many, many names, so perhaps that marker is at least to be found, somewhere. D.Ross