Dispatch Newletter

The WWI Centennial Dispatch is a weekly newsletter that touches the highlights of WWI centennial and the Commission's activities. It is a short and easy way to keep tabs on key happenings. We invite you to subscribe to future issues and to explore the archive of previous issues.

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June 6, 2016

Commission to be part of Oshkosh aviation event
The United States World War One Centennial Commission will be participating in the 2016 Experimental Aircraft Association's annual Airventure air show in Oskosh, WI in July. Throughout the event, the Commission will be holding media events at the main tent with historians to talk about World War One and the role and development of aviation during the war.

President appoints new Commissioner
President Barack Obama has announced the appointment of Ambassador Tod Sedgwick as a Commissioner on the United States World War One Centennial Commission.

Formerly U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, Sedgwick is Sedgwick is a Fellow at the Transatlantic Center at The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Study and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. Read the whole announcement and Sedgwick's entire bio here. Three of the Commission's members are appointed by the President, six by Congress, and one each by the VFW, American Legion, and the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO.

PA WWI vets remembered on Memorial Day
All the members of the American Expeditionary Force's

314th Infantry, 79th Division, who fought in World War I's bloody Meuse-Argonne Offensive, are gone now. But in Pennsylvania, the Descendants and Friends of the 314th keep their memory alive with an annual event to honor their service and sacrifice. Read the story about this year's event in Valley Forge here.

ROTC began in WWI anticipation on June 3, 1916

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) has celebrated the centennial of its establishment, which took place on the eve of America's entry into WWI. The ROTC was born out of concern about the nation's ability to expand its officer corps rapidly in wartime. 100 years later, the ROTC is the largest source of officers in the U.S. Armed Forces. Check out how the Army ROTC grew over the last century here.

White Ceramic Mug
Featuring the iconic Doughboy silhouette flanked by barbed wire so prevalent during WWI, you can enjoy your favorite beverage in this 15-ounce ceramic mug and honor the sacrifices made by U.S. soldiers.
You'll find this and many other commemorative items at the Official Merchandise Shop.

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The annual EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the world's largest airshow.

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May 31, 2016

Weishaar Memorial Day Op-Ed published widely
With the help of Dispatch readers, a Memorial Day Op-Ed by National World War One Memorial Lead Designer Joe Weishaar was widely published over the holiday weekend. The Op-Ed appeared in Weishaar's hometown Arkansas Democrat-Gazette print and online editions, and other major newspapers such as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The editorial was also published by the Veterans of Foreign Wars on its national web site, as well as VFW and American Legion post web sites across the nation. The Op-Ed was featured on the online Huffington Post Huffpost Good News section as well. Thanks to our subscribers for helping distribute this editorial widely. Let us know if you saw it published in another publication this weekend.

A race against time to return WWI Purple Hearts

Purple Hearts Reunited, a group that seeks to reunite lost Purple Hearts with service members or their descendants is embarking on an ambitious project: to return 100 such medals or certificates earned in World War I before the 100th anniversary next April of the United States' entry into the conflict. Read about this outstanding effort here.

Green American legacy of WW1 carnage at Verdun
The little blue flowers that have grown for a century now in France

near the graves of the war dead at Douaumont can easily be mistaken for local forget-me-nots. In fact they are a foreign import, an American flower brought as seeds on the hooves of the US army horses used at Verdun during World War I. Read more about how American blue-eyed grass became part of a rich legacy left by the carnage of World War I in France's Forest of Verdun: a unique mix of flora and fauna.

The challenge of finding families of WW1 casualties opens eyes of Ohio students

Students at the Fort Hayes, Ohio Metropolitan Education Center have hand-crafted over 60 white ceramic poppies to be donated in remembrance of Franklin County service members who died in World War I . However, finding the families of those WW1 casualties has proved to be a formidable challenge. Read more about what the students are doing to find homes for these memorial poppies, and what they are learning in the process.

U.S. Army “Doughboy” Window Decal

Featuring the iconic Doughboy silhouette flanked by barbed wire so prevalent during WWI, you can proudly display this poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by U.S. soldiers.
Show everyone that you support the World War One Centennial, and help promote our efforts, by showcasing this custom window decal.

A Certificate of Authenticity as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial is included. Measures 3.5" x 6".

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Joe Weishaar
Lead Designer, National World War One Memorial
at Pershing Park in Washington D.C.

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May 25, 2016

SPECIAL EDITION:
Here's a way you can help get the Memorial done with just one email today.

Newspapers around the country are always looking for thoughtful Opinion/Editorial or OpEd pieces to run over a holiday weekend. Here's one by WWI Memorial designer Joe Weishaar. Will you share it with your local newspaper/TV/and radio station? The Doughboys say 'Thanks!'

"This Memorial Day, let's Build a WW1 Memorial."
By Joe Weishaar, Lead Designer
The National World War One Memorial in Pershing Park, Washington DC

As many Americans around the country take a moment to relax with friends and family this Memorial Day, I hope they take a moment to pause over their grills and swimming pools to ponder what the holiday really represents.
It's been my absolute pleasure the last 10 months to be involved in what I often consider an overwhelming project; designing the National World War One Memorial in Washington, D.C. I must admit that before I began I hadn't given much thought to WWI.
For anyone who didn't know that there isn't already a National WWI Memorial in D.C., I can't say I blame you. It was a war that happened nearly two generations before I was born and events like WWII and the Great Depression greatly overshadowed learning about it while I was in school. Yet here we are, and next year is the 100th anniversary of American troops heading over to Europe. Our capital is lacking a memorial to what is commonly referred to as “The Great War” and “the war to end all wars.” It was a war that changed the face of our industry, our technology and our place in the world.
As a 26 year old, I don't yet fully know what I can do to make change and progress in this country, but I do know that 100 years ago young Americans just like me were about to head off to fight in WW1, and they fought for the ideals that would go on to define the American century.
When I submitted a design to this competition nearly a year ago I only had a glimmer of hope that it would progress to this stage. However, I did so with the idea that it was important to do all I could to honor the men and women who once defended freedom and self-determination for their towns, states, and country. Not only has it been a life changing experience to stand up in Washington and tell people about my ideas for a memorial park, but now it is a humbling honor to find myself at the head of this great undertaking. The memorial design in progress is a tribute to our humanity and a marker of courageous acts in the most harrowing of circumstances.
Just like enlistment was in the Great War, this is a volunteer effort. Time and donations are coming solely from the citizens of this country with no tax dollars or government spending. 100 years ago more than 116,000 Americans lost their lives defending their small towns like the one in Arkansas that I came from. It is time they had a proper memorial in our nation's capital. The building of this memorial sends a signal, a signal to your families, children and grandchildren that courage, honor and sacrifice still mean something. It is a message to our current and future veterans that they will not be forgotten when their time comes.
As Memorial Day approaches this year I hope you keep the soldiers of WW1 in your thoughts. It is time for us to give back for the sacrifices they made almost 100 years ago. With this project, we need this same sense of service from every American to make it happen and I hope you will support me in this effort. Examples of my design and opportunities to give can be found at ww1cc.org/memorial.

Press Resources (more images and information):
http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/stage-ii-design-development/the-weight-of-sacrifice.html

Joe Weishaar,
Lead Designer

(Click image for a high res copy)

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May 23, 2016

Four new Special Advisors for Commission announced at Washington, DC event

Four new members of the U.S. World War 1 Centennial Commission's Board of Special Advisors were announced last week: Secretary Leon Panetta, formerly Secretary of Defense, White House Chief of Staff, Director the the CIA, Director of OMB, and Congressman from California; Dr. Vint Cerf, one of the four recognized inventors of the Internet;

Commissioner Ray Kelly, longest-serving Police Commissioner for the New York City Police Department; and Helen Patton, the granddaughter of U.S. Army General George S. Patton. Read all about the announcement in DC last week, which was also attended by Ambassador Carol Mosley Braun, a member of the Commission's Diplomatic Advisory Board.

See the video of the press conference in our WW1 Video Library.

Fundraising effort for the Liberty Plane takes off
The campaign to restore to flying status the last remaining original DH4 air frame from World War 1 got off the ground last week.

The project intends not only to commemorate those who flew the DH4 in World War 1, but also all military aviators who have served over the last 100 years. In 2017, when completed, "The Liberty Plane" will enable

Americans today to take a first person look into the lives of those who were willing to sacrifice it all. Read more about the effort to make this important national treasure fly again in memory of all those who gave so much for their country and those they loved, and find out how you can help get her off the ground.

Commission takes WW1 Centennial story to SAS
The Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition is the largest maritime exposition in the U.S.,

and this year it was highlighted by an information booth from the U.S. World War 1 Centennial Commission. Check out how Commission staffers and volunteers told the World War 1 Centennial story to thousands of exhibit goers in D.C. last week.

New on the WW1CC.org website this week

The World War One Centennial Commission has launched a new section of the national web site that features the National WWI Memorial Project. You can get to it by going to WW1CC.org/memorial

Here you will find all the current and past information from archival access to the 350 initial submissions, to a project timeline, to the latest information about the project today.

We need your help to make this real. It is up to us to speak for them with our contributions to this great memorial project.

"They’ve Earned Their Own Memorial" – Bumper Sticker

On December 19, 2014, Congress passed legislation designating Pershing Park in the District of Columbia as a national World War One Memorial. The Act authorizes the World War One Centennial Commission to further honor the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War One by developing the Pershing Park Site. Visit the website, proudly display the bumper sticker, donate generously to the effort to make this Memorial a reality!

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Secretary Leon Panetta is now advising the U.S. World War 1 Centennial Commission

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May 16, 2016

‘American Art in the Shadow of World War I’ charts
American artists’ changing perceptions of the war The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State will showcase 18 different artworks as part of the “American Art in the Shadow of World War I” exhibit starting Tuesday, May 17. The exhibition will showcase the work of American artists prior to, during and after World War I, as well as how these artists adapted their styles in response to the war. Read more about this exhibition here.

World War 1 cannon back where it belongs
Thieves in Northern California absconded with the World War 1 cannon displayed in front of the Richmond Veterans Memorial Hall last week,

but an aggressive news and social media campaign by the local police force brought the gun back to its place of honor in short order. See how the community response kept the artifact from being melted down.

Baseball was therapy for U.S. wounded in WW1

With the 2016 baseball season heating up as Memorial Day approaches, the National Archives has released poignant photographs of World War I veterans recovering at military hospitals throughout the United States playing amputee baseball. It appears that this "reconstructive recreation" was a big hit! Read the article here.

Find your family member who served in the Coast Guard during World War 1
The U.S. Coast Guard was only two years old when America entered World War 1, though its heritage reaches back to 1790.

The new entry in the Documenting Doughboys series on the Commission web site explains the key records available to identify those who served in the Coast Guard in the Great War. Check it out here, along with all the other features in the Family Ties section.

“DESTROY THIS MAD BRUTE.” Poster

Vintage replica WWI 14”x 24” poster inspired by the U.S. Army’s plea to enlist. A patriotic and distinctive way to accessorize your wall space, this commemorative poster is offered exclusively through the World War One Centennial Commission.
You too can help make American history. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item goes towards funding the building of a national World War One Memorial in Washington, D.C.
A Certificate of Authenticity as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial is included.
This and many other commemorative items are available in the Official Merchandise store.

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Matching Donation by the
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