The VFW Supporting the World War I Centennial Commission

From the April 2017, VFW Magazine.

April 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of the United States joining World War I.  More than 199,000 service members gave their lives in the short 18 months of involvement.  On the United States, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission has many events planned and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) is giving its complete support, according to National Commander Brian Duffy.

Public programs and events are planned all across the country.  They will kick off April 6, 2017, at the World War I Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, (the Liberty Memorial) a little more than a mile from the VFW National Headquarters.  It will culminate with the dedication of the National World War I Memorial  in Washington, D.C.'s Pershing Park.

--DaCoot

Let's Go Ahead With a National Mall World War I Monument

The Liberty Memorial tower and World War I museum in Kansas City is all well and done.  However, it is time to press ahead with what our last surviving serviceman of the war, Frank Buckles, wanted done before his death.

And, that would be to erect a monument to our World War I veterans on the National Mall in Washington, D.C..

It's About Time

Thousands Observe U.S. Entrance to WWI-- Part 4

When the monument was completed five years later, more than 150,000 attended to hear President Calvin Coolidge dedicate it.  (Again, one has to wonder why our current president was not there last week).

The museum's CEO, Matt Naylor, said' "For the past 91 years, people from across the globe have come to learn and remember."

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens lauded the fact that Missouri was the birthplace of Frank Buckles, who, until his death in 2011 was the war's last surviving U.S. veteran.

Across the Atlantic on Thursday, France staged its own centennial observance of the American entrance.  the French Defense Minister urged everyone to remember "the courage of America and the millions of soldiers that came to fight on our side."

--Cooter

Thousands Observe Centennial of U.S. Entrance Into World War I-- Part 2

Several short films were shown, one narrated by Kevin Costner and another one by Gary Sinise were displayed on 25-foot tall screens.  Ragtime music (popular back in 1917) was played plus there was military pomp and recitations as well as speeches by politicians.

Many who spoke talked about American sacrifice.  By the end of the war in 1918, more than 9 million lives were lost in combat and Americans accounted for 116,000 of them in the short time we were involved.

Retired Army Col. Ribert Dalesandro, chairman of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission told the crowd:  "America entered the war to bring liberty, democracy and peace to the world after almost three years of unprecedented hardship, strife and horror.  We still live in the long shadow of World War I in every aspect of our lives."

--Cooter

Thousands At Liberty Memorial Tower for Centennial Observance-- Part 1

From the April 7, 2017, Chicago Tribune "Thousands at U.S. monument pause for WWI observance" by Jim Suhr, AP.

A flyover by eight planes trailing colored smoke and thousands of attendees paused to remember that day 100 years ago, April 6, 1917, when the United States entered the war that had been going on since 1914.   That was a good day for the Allies like Britain and France and a bad one for Germany.

The commemoration, titles "In Sacrifice For Liberty and Peace" was essentially a multimedia time warp back 100 years ago.

A dew thousand ticket holders and dozens of foreign ambassadors (evidently no President Trump) were in attendance as a color guard dressed as WWI "Doughboys" presented the colors and and short films were shown.

--Cooter

Kansas City's Liberty Memorial Readies for World War Centennial

From the Jan. 10, 2014, Kansas City (Mo) State "As World War I centennial approaches, Liberty Memorial museum will take center stage" by Matt Campbell.

The Liberty Museum is the largest repository of Great War items other than London's Imperial War Museum.

The Society for Military History will have 600 in attendance for their annual meeting at the museum in April. The World War I Centennial Commission, created by Congress, is anchored at the Liberty Memorial and will hold a conference in August which will be streamed online under the heading "Guns of August."

World War I was the first modern mechanized war and led to the collapse of empires. The beginning of the war will be marked this August, but another peak interest will be in 2017, the 100th anniversary of the United States' entry into it.

The Liberty Memorial Association is a private group, but manages the publicly-owned monument and will also be striving to raise money with the increased interest. It had its inception back in 1919, when Kansas City raised $2.5 million to create the Liberty Memorial which was dedicated in 1925.

A Place I'd Sure Like to Visit This Year. --DaCot