In the woods above the Chapel of the Aisne Marne American Cemetery. Commemorative Object

This monument is a black granite stele containing a relief which was the work of Felix Weldon of New York, NY. It commemorates the 4th Marine Brigade of the U.S. of the 2nd Divison. The relief contains a depiction of a Marine attacking with bayonette and rifle. 

BOIS DE BELLEAU OFFICIALLY RENAMED BOIS DE LA BRIGADE DE

MARINE BY THE COMMANDING GENERAL FRENCH SIXTH ARMY ON 30 JUNE 1918 IN RECOGNITION OF THE COURAGEOUS ACTION OF THE 4TH UNITED STATES MARINE BRIGADE IN THE SEIZURE OF THIS WOOD IN THE FACE OF DETERMINED GERMAN RESISTANCE. ON 27 MAY 1918, THE GERMANS LAUNCHED A MAJOR SURPRISE OFFENSIVE WHICH CROSSED THE CHEMIN DES DAMES AND CAPTURED SOISSONS. BY 31 MAY, THEIR ARMIES WERE ADVANCING RAPIDLY DOWN THE MARNE VALLEY TOWARD PARIS. THE 2ND UNITED STATES ARMY DIVISION OF WHICH THE 4TH MARINE BRIGADE FORMED A PART, WAS RUSHED INTO THE DEEPEST POINT OF THE PENETRATION TO ASSIST THE FRENCH FORCES IN STOPPING THE ADVANCE OF THE ENEMY. RAPIDLY OCCUPYING DEFENSIVE POSTTIONS SOUTH AND WEST OF BELLEAU WOOD, THE 4TH MARINE BRIGADE, COMPOSED OF THE 5TH AND 6TH MARINE REGIMENTS AND THE 6TH MACHINE GUN BATTALION, STOOD FIRM UNDERUNREMITTING ENEMY ATTACKS FROM 1 TO 5 JUNE. ON 6 JUNE, THE MARINES BEGAN A SERIES OF ATTACKS WHICH CULMINATED ON 25 JUNE WITH THE CAPTURE OF THE ENTIRE BELLEAU WOOD AREA, AND THE DEFEAT OF THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN THIS SECTOR. MAY THE GALLANT MARINES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR CORPS AND COUNTRY REST