Sync Call for Wednesday July 8 at Noon EDT
1. News and Announcements:
Update from the States
Pennsylvania:
June 24 Meeting
Commissioner Hester attended a meeting with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and several of our volunteers in Harrisburg, PA on June 24th. They visited the 28th Division Military Museum in Boalsburg, PA and discussed planning events in May 2017 & 2018.
California:
Bay Area WW1 Historical Association Event
The Bay Area WW1 Historical Association will host “We Were Americans Too: The African American Officer and Enlisted Man during the Great War” presented by historian Anthony Powell at its chapter meeting on July 11 at 10am (PDT) at San Jose University. Powell has spent over thirty years studying, teaching, collecting and writing about the American Buffalo Soldier. He has curated exhibitions, lectured at dozens of universities and museums on the subject of Black Military History, and is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles. In addition to his presentation, Mr. Powell plans to display rare museum exhibits featuring uniforms and artifacts from the African-American experience. Admission to this event is free.
Virginia:
The Virginia WW1 Centennial Committee has connected with the Virginia Secretary of Education - we are happy to report on their behalf that the Virginia Department of Education is working to provide resources and instructional materials to divisions, schools, and teachers of the Commonwealth. The Department looks forward to supporting the Virginia WW1 Centennial Committee and coordinating with the Committee throughout the Centennial period on educational materials and opportunities.
Virginia’s next meeting is Monday, August 31st
Georgia:
We were recently put in touch with American Legion Post 115- he saw the Article on Commissioner Whitfield in the American Legion Magazine and contacted the Commission. We were able to put him in touch with our volunteer Virginia Dilkes and with the burgeoning Georgia WW1 Centennial Commission-- he didn’t know one existed! This is just another example of our grassroots efforts hard at work.
And how YOU CAN HELP:
This Sync Call will aim to share more of these State Outreach highlights each week-- Be sure to let us know about what’s going on in your state so we can report it!
Saving Hallowed Ground Memorial Oak Tree Project
Saving Hallowed Ground, a WW1 Centennial Commission partner, has established a WW1 Centennial Memorial Oak Tree Project to honor the men and women who served our Nation's battle, over here and over there, for freedom during the Great War. Many thousands of oak trees were planted to honor our Nation's fallen during that great conflict and Saving Hallowed Ground would like to carry on that tradition starting with dedication of these living memorials coinciding with the centennial commemoration the end of the war in 2018. For more information on how your community or organization can create their own living memorial please contact Saving Hallowed Ground at savinghallowedground@gmail.com with Memorial Oak Project in the subject line.
Operation Doorknock
Our interns have hand delivered 39 letters to members of the Senate and 82 to the House for a total of 121 letters! Over the next several weeks, they will deliver 70-80 a day over before Gen. McCaffrey’s visit to the hill. Our State Outreach team and Government Relations office is putting together a state-based advocacy kit that will help our volunteers can reach out to district offices while members are home on recess.
Upper Midwest Regional Meeting - Save the Date
The Pritzker Museum and Military Library located in Chicago, Illinois would like to extend an invitation for the volunteer representatives in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Wisconsin which comprise the World War I Centennial Commission’s Upper Midwest Region to a collaborative meeting. The meeting will be held on 16 September, 2015. The purpose of this meeting is to provide updates on the strides each state has made in the planning efforts for the centennial. Reach out to Susan Mennenga with questions or comments.
Next Commission Meeting: July 15
We are a week away from the next Commission Meeting - 15 July 2015 at the National WWI Museum in Kansas City. The Commission Meeting is open to the public Anyone that wishes to dial in and listen may do so with this number: 712-432-1001, Access Code: 474-845-614# (Note: Commissioners and Ex Officio Members will have a different dial in number. Meredith will send the number later this week. Stay tuned for that. Thanks). We encourage you to join us or listen to the commissioners make decisions about our future! We also want to the thank the Museum, our great partner, for hosting this event. We can’t wait to visit the memorial in its new designation as a NATIONAL WWI Memorial and Museum.
Design Competition: July 21 Deadline Approaching!
The deadline for round 1 submissions is Tuesday, July 21st!
Even if we get the perfect design we can’t build it without donations. We encourage everyone on this call to consider donating. Every dollar counts and every dollar is matched by our founding sponsor, the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. They deserve a memorial. We can build it.
Details about the competition, as well as the competition manual can be found here. You can also help make this restoration a reality by making a donation to the Memorial Fund. Share this link on social media and on your organization's website--however you can get the word out. We cannot do this without your support. Thank you.
American Legion Magazine
For those of you who are American Legion Magazine subscribers, look out for an article in the July issue, featuring our Commissioner, Jim Whitfield. Pages 38 thru 42. You can also read the article here.
Thank you Commissioner Whitfield for your dedication to veterans for over 70 years and for all of your hard work with our State Outreach plan. We are so lucky to have you on the Commission!
In the article - Commissioner Whitfield calls for Legionnaires to get involved - maybe this will be a call to you too....
“How can American Legion posts and departments support the commission?
We hope they’ll take up the banner and do something locally. The Legion has its own centennial committee, so hopefully we will supplement each other. Some posts are named for World War I veterans; they could do some kind of history. They could take a survey of World War I monuments and memorials in their city, their county, and refurbish them. In the process, they’re going to get recognition, which then tells the public that World War I was important....
If a state has a World War I centennial commission or committee, I’d hope the department is friendly enough with the state government that it would be a part of that commission or committee. Whatever is happening to mark the war’s centennial in their states and their communities, departments should be a part of it.”
Read more: Sync-Call Minutes 07-08-15
Sync Call for Wednesday July 1 at Noon EDT
1. News and Announcements:
Operation Doorknock
We are really turning up our legislative outreach efforts this July- and we’re calling it Operation Doorknock. Our interns have been hand delivering personalized letters and informational packets to every Senate and Congressional office on Capitol Hill. Each letter highlights the contributions and sacrifices of that members’ state during WWI and speaks to why WWI is so important to commemorate. General Barry McCaffrey, special advisor to the WWICC, will meet with key members on the Hill during the week of July 20th on our behalf. Once Operation Doorknock is complete we will ask for volunteers to follow-up on our efforts within their home states during the August recess. Stay tuned for more information on that.
American Legion Magazine
For those of you who are American Legion Magazine subscribers, look out for an article in the July issue, featuring our Commissioner, Jim Whitfield. Pages 38 thru 42. You can also read the article here.
Thank you Commissioner Whitfield for your dedication to veterans for over 70 years and for all of your hard work with our State Outreach plan. We are so lucky to have you on the Commission!
A Centenary of Australian War Art
our friends at the National World War One Museum are opening a new exhibit called A Centenary of Australian Art on July 17. This exhibit will be the most comprehensive collection of Australian war art ever seen outside of Australia. It will consist of 41 artworks from the Australian War Memorial depicting Australian military experience from the First World War to Afghanistan. The exhibition features Australia’s best known war artists, including George Lambert and Arthur Streeton, and the works highlight the crucial role Australians played in some of the most defining moments in modern history.
Centennial Countdown to the Great War
Dennis Cross, one of our fantastic Kansas state outreach volunteers, publishes a monthly blog called Centennial Countdown to the Great War. As the name suggests, this blog covers events that took place a hundred years ago this month. Visit the blog here
Stamp Committee Letter
Thank you David Dorsey and Keith Muchowski for sending in a letter to the US Postal Service Stamp Committee!
Connecticut and the Great War--Call for Papers due July 15
Several Connecticut historical organizations are sponsoring a one-day conference called Connecticut and the Great War on Saturday, November 7th, 2015. The meeting will be held at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT and will feature speakers from diverse backgrounds discussing a wide variety of topics that focus on the any and all aspects of World War I in Connecticut.
Historical society and museum personnel, graduate students, independent scholars, teachers, and members of the academic community are all invited to make presentations. To be considered, you must submit a paper title, abstract, and a short c.v. to the conference organizers. The application deadline is July 15, 2015. Their website can be found here.
Upper Midwest Regional Meeting - Save the Date
The Pritzker Museum and Military Library located in Chicago, Illinois would like to extend an invitation for the volunteer representatives in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Wisconsin which comprise the World War I Centennial Commission’s Upper Midwest Region to a collaborative meeting. The meeting will be held on 16 September, 2015. The purpose of this meeting is to provide updates on the strides each state has made in the planning efforts for the centennial. Reach out to Susan Mennenga with questions or comments.
Design Competition
As you know, last week we officially announced the our competition for the design of the National WWI Memorial at Pershing Park! Details about the competition, as well as the competition manual can be found here. You can also help make this restoration a reality by making a donation to the Memorial Fund.
They deserve a memorial. We can build it for them. Share this link on social media and on your organization's website--however you can get the word out. We cannot do this without your support. Thank you.
Next Commission Meeting
We are just one month away from the next Commission Meeting - 15 July 2015 at the National WWI Museum in Kansas City. The Commission Meeting is open to the public and we will provide a call in number for those who can’t make it to Kansas City. We encourage you to join us or listen to the commissioners make decisions about our future. We want to the thank the Museum and great partner for hosting this event. We can’t wait to visit the memorial in its new designation as a NATIONAL WWI Memorial and Museum.
Read more: Sync-Call Minutes 07-01-15
The Doughboy Podcast is about what happened 100 years ago during and after the War that changed the world --- and it is also about NOW - How WWI is still present in our daily lives - How it is remembered and discussed, learned and taught - but most importantly - the podcast is about why and how we will never let awareness of WWI fall back into the mists of obscurity.
Tours with Mike Hanlon
States’ Status 
In Washington DC
Private Henry Johnson will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions while serving as a member of the 369th Infantry Regiment, American Expeditionary Forces. Private Johnson entered the Army on June 5, 1917. He was assigned to an all-black National Guard unit that would later become the 369th Infantry Regiment. The Regiment was ordered into battle in 1918, and Private Johnson and his unit were brigaded with a French Army colonial unit in front-line combat. While on night sentry duty on May 15, 1918, Private Johnson and a fellow Soldier received a surprise attack by a German raiding party consisting of at least 12 soldiers. While under intense enemy fire and despite receiving significant wounds, Johnson mounted a brave retaliation resulting in several enemy casualties. When his fellow soldier was badly wounded, Private Johnson prevented him from being taken prisoner by German forces. Private Johnson exposed himself to grave danger by advancing from his position to engage an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Displaying great courage, Private Johnson held back the enemy force until they retreated.
