The 40-foot-tall Peace Cross monument, standing at the intersections of Bladensburg Road, Baltimore Avenue, and Annapolis Road in Bladensburg, Maryland, serves as a reminder of the 49 local residents who died in World War I. Four African Americans were among the 49 lives lost in that mainly European tribal conflict and their names are etched like the others in the memorial, also called the Veteran’s memorial.

In a landmark decision, on June 19, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 7-2 to allow the Veteran’s memorial to continue to stand on public land, just outside of Washington, DC.  Now, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County has embarked on a mission to restore the memorial built in 1919.

The four Black men fought in a war during a time when even in their own country, equality didn’t exist. The African Americans highlighted on the Peace Cross are: 
 
Clarence Butler, (4/14/1890-10/6/1918), a farmer with his father in Nottingham, Md.

James Cooper, (3/1/1897 – 10/5/1918), a farmer in Aquasco, Md.

John Seaburn, (10/27/1897 – 10/4/1918), grew up in what is now North Brentwood, Md.

Benjamin Thompson, (1/11/1894 – 10/13/1918), was born in Waldorf, Md., and worked for himself as a farmer.


To support fundraising efforts for the Peace Cross’ restoration, the Prince George’s County has developed a commemorative brick program. Through its webpage, the public can purchase a custom brick to be inscribed with text of their choice.

Maryland State Senator Malcolm Augustine stated, "As we honor our local heroes memorialized on the Bladensburg Peace Cross, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate our thanks by contributing to the restoration of the structure. I am pleased to purchase a brick that will be a permanent fixture of this historic memorial, in honor of the four African American soldiers listed on the Peace Cross.”