The First Division of the American Expeditionary Force was created during World War I and has served honorably in every U.S. military engagement since then. The monument was created to honor those who died in World War I; their names appear on the bronze plates at the base of the memorial. Panels have subsequently been added to bear the names of those who died in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Operation Desert Storm. The memorial was paid for by members of the First Division.

The statue on top is called "Winged Victory," designed by Daniel Chester French. She is made of bronze plated in gold and sits atop an 65-foot column of pink Massachusetts granite -- one of the largest pieces ever quarried in the United States.

The nickname of the First Division is "The Big Red One" and on occasion, a bed of red flowers in front of the memorial spells out a huge numeral one.