She died of post-operative complications after surgery for a gastric ulcer while on duty with British base hospital #10/#16 on the Western Front.

After the United States joined World War I, Fairchild and 63 other nurses from the hospital volunteered for the American Expeditionary Forces.

On the night of 17 August, the casualty clearing station was bombed by German aircraft and the medical staff were evacuated back to Le Treport.

The post-mortem examination suggested that she died as a result of hepatic complications from the chloroform used as the anesthesia during her operation, possibly worsened by her previous exposure to mustard gas.

The unveiling was attended by a number of high ranking Belgian and other officials, including a representative of the American Embassy and the villagers from West Vleteren.

directed by Eliciana Nascimento and produced by Daniel Bernardi with the collaboration of El Dorado Films and the Veteran Documentary Corps.