Four Questions for Robert Cozzolino of PAFA
"So many compelling personal stories for visitors to discover"
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
Robert Cozzolino is Exhibition Curator for the upcoming Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts art exhibit on World War One, entitled "World War I and American Art".
Tell us a little about the upcoming PAFA exhibit on World War I.
Robert CozzolinoThe exhibition is the first to examine the rich and varied relationship American artists had with the war. It examines the responses by artists working in a wide range of materials to the war from beginning to end and in the years immediately afterward. There are also two artists included who are working today and who have found World War I to be a compelling subject that relates to the current cultural climate -- Mary Reid Kelley and Debra Priestly.
The exhibition includes works by well-known artists whose wartime work has been discussed before: George Bellows, Marsden Hartley, Childe Hassam, and Horace Pippin. One of the highlights is that the Imperial War Museum has generously agreed to lend John Singer Sargent's monumental painting "Gassed" -- a painting that has rarely been seen in the U.S.
But the show's most significant contribution is presenting artwork contemporary with the war that has not previously been considered in this context. For instance, modernists such as John Marin and Georgia O'Keeffe made abstractions that on further consideration are direct responses to war imagery. Artists who are relative unknowns will also shine in this exhibition. Claggett Wilson, who fought in some of the bloodiest American battles of the war, left behind an extraordinary group of watercolors about his first-hand war experience. I think they will be the great discovery of the project.
The exhibition was deliberately timed to coincide with the centenary of the U.S. entering the war. As far as I know it is one of very few projects of this scale anywhere in the U.S. to focus on the war. We have also published a catalogue, which includes many essays and images.
Read more: Four Questions for Robert Cozzolino at PAFA
MacArthur Memorial hosts a World War One Symposium
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
On 21-22 October, the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk VA hosted a remarkable World War I symposium, entitled “1916: Sex, Planes, and Disasters”.
Several noted speakers were featured at the event. Some of the topics discussed include the Brusilov Offensive, aerial bombardment during the war, the United States in 1916, the Battle of the Somme, the British Army, The Battle of Verdun, and more.
Dr. Monique Seefried, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission’s Lead Commissioner for International Partnerships, helped organize the event, and acted as the Host/EmCee. Dr Seefried is the President of the Croix Rouge Farm Memorial Foundation.
Presenters on the first day included Steve Suddaby who gave a presentation entitled “From Venice to London: Aerial Bombing in 1916,” Carl Bobrow whose presentation was entitled “Russian Air Assets in the Brusilov Offensive,” Robert Powell who gave a presentation entitled “Flying Vintage Aircraft.” and Dana Lombardy whose presentation was entitled “Sex..and Spies. Oh My!”
Read more: MacArthur Memorial hosts a World War One Symposium
Memorial Held to Commemorate Norman Prince and the Lafayette Escadrille
at the National Cathedral in Washington DC
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
Terry L. Johnson, historian & author, "Valiant Volunteers: a Novel Based on the Lafayette Escadrille" reads a passage during the Norman Prince ceremony at the National Cathedral.A memorial service to honor World War I aviation hero, Norman Prince, and to honor the Lafayette Escadrille that he helped to create, was held on Friday, October 14th. The ceremony was held on the centennial of Norman Prince’s tragic death.
Norman Prince, a trained pilot and a graduate of Harvard University, was one of seven founding members of the Lafayette Escadrille, and he flew dozens of air combat missions in support of the Allied Forces. During a combat mission on October 12th, 1916, Norman’s aircraft was involved in a crash, and Prince died as a result of his injuries on October 15th 1916.
Upon his death he was promoted to sous-lieutenant, and he was awarded the Legion of Honor. Prince was also awarded the Medaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre for his service. His body is buried in his personal tomb at the National Cathedral. His body is now interred at the National Cathedral, in a chapel that was donated by his family.
Read more: Memorial Held to Commemorate Norman Prince and the Lafayette Escadrille at the National Cathedral...
Long entombed at National Cathedral, a forgotten hero of WW1 is recalled
By Michael E. Ruane
Via the Washington Post
Twenty years after Norman Prince was killed in World War I, his body was brought from France on a luxurious ocean liner, transported on a special railroad car to Washington, and lay overnight in repose in Union Station.
Norman Prince
Later, it was placed in an elaborate stone tomb his parents had built inside Washington National Cathedral, at the foot of a seven-foot statue of him by a famous French sculptor.
The former head of the U.S. Army spoke at the dedication.
Today, visitors seldom stop at the crypt of the young aviator, with its carved scenes from the Great War and the flags of the United States and France on either side. The hero is all but forgotten.
On Friday, October 14, the cathedral will host a service marking the centennial of Prince’s death and recall a founder of a dashing band of American pilots known as the Lafayette Escadrille.
One of the most famous outfits of the war, it was made up of adventurers, barnstormers and the sons of American tycoons — men who were drawn to the thrill of aviation and a chance to fight in the war.
Read more: Long entombed at National Cathedral, a forgotten hero of WWI is recalled
#COUNTDOWNTOVETERANSDAY update for October 11, 2016
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
Our Countdown To Veterans Day awareness campaign continues to charge ahead!
To date, on Twitter, we have had some 204 participants post some 1,005 tweets, which have reached an overall potential audience of 1,927,273 people.
On Facebook this week, posts and reposts by such friends as the Honor Flight Network, and Museum of American Speed, have brought us a potential audience of 1,220,000 people.
Huge thank you for all your help!
For more information, and for opportunities to honor America's Veterans, go to the Countdown to Veterans Day page.
My Search for Greayer Clover
By Courtland Jindra
Greayer CloverLos Angeles County lost over four hundred fifty servicemen and women in World War One. When researching LA's commemoration of the war in the interwar years I found numerous memorials. However, with all the names of the dead and many thousands of others who served from the area (including two Medal of Honor recipients), a single name dots SoCal. Even if one doesn't catch all the references, Greayer Clover pops up everywhere. Who was this guy?
Greayer's father, Samuel had been a LA-based newspaperman who apparently waited to move to Virginia till the kids were done with High School to run a paper there. Probably because of his father Greayer was able to publish several articles about his wartime service in newspapers and magazines. After he died the family gathered all they could on Grubby and packaged it together as a tome for posterity. A Stop at Suzanne's is a very poignant look at how one young man lived his war time experience.
Clover was a graduate of Los Angeles High School, where he was a star tennis player. He won the state title his senior year, and even won a round in the US National Championships, which eventually would become the modern day US Open. From Los Angeles he went to Stanford for a year before transferring to Yale.
Read more: My Search for Greayer Clover
Those who served: Memorial to mark World War One
By Vanessa Seward
Via the Democrat-Gazette
Every teacher can spot certain students who will go on to do great things, but even I could not have guessed that our own Joe Weishaar, of Fayetteville, Ark., would be chosen to design a national memorial to the millions of Americans who served during World War 1.
Joe WeishaarFor 17 years I have served as a Gifted and Talented Facilitator at McNair Middle School in the Fayetteville Public Schools. Twelve years ago, Joe was my student in my gifted class.
I clearly remember him as a serious, attentive, sweet student. Imagine my pride when he was announced as the winner of an international design competition earlier this year! Joe's World War I memorial design beat out more than 360 submissions from over 20 countries and now, on the cusp of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entering World War I, he will have a chance to honor the millions of Americans who served in that war.
Building a national World War I memorial is an incredibly important undertaking for Joe, for our veterans, for our state and our country.
There were 71,862 young Arkansans, many younger than Joe's 26 years, who served in World War I. Arkansans Marcellus Chiles and Oscar Miller earned the Medal of Honor in World War I, and John Henry Pruitt, a proud Marine from Fallsville, is one of a precious few who received the Medal of Honor twice. On the home front, people of all ages helped in the war effort.
Read more: Those who served: Memorial to mark World War One editorial
Eventful trip to Arkansas for Memorial Concept Designer Joe Weishaar
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
World War One Memorial designer, Joe Weishaar (L), was hosted this past week by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, in Bentonville Arkansas, as part of their Spotlight Talk series. He discussed his work, the Memorial, and WW1.Joe Weishaar, concept designer of the National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park, was invited to his home state of Arkansas the first week of October, to be a guest speaker at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s Spotlight Talk series. He was joined onstage by Dean of the University of Arkansas Fay School of Architecture, Peter Mackeith. Together, they talked about the the school, the Commission, and the new World War One Memorial.
While there, Joe was was also able to connect with his former elementary school teacher, Vanessa Seward, and he visited her classroom to talk to her students. Ms. Seward has been a supporter of the new World War I Memorial, and recently wrote an Op Ed piece in favor of the memorial that ran in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, and can be found here.
The WW1CC’s Chief Development Officer, Roger Fisk, joined Joe on the trip, to help tell people about the new memorial. Together, they met with business community leaders, and they also appeared on a radio talk show for the local NPR affiliate, KUAF Public Radio 91.3 FM, discussing the Centennial Commission’s efforts.
Read more: Eventful trip to Arkansas for Memorial Concept Designer Joe Weishaar
World War One Centennial Commission, DAR plan commemoration efforts
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
World War One Centennial Commission Executive Director Daniel Dayton (left) with Daughters of the American Revolution President General Ann Turner Dillon.On October 4, World War One Centennial Commission Executive Director Daniel Dayton, was hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution President General Ann Turner Dillon at the DAR headquarters in Washington, DC. The two leaders discussed partnership between our organizations in our commemorative & educational efforts.
After the meeting, Mr. Dayton stated "We are honored to be working with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution to tell the story of World War I. Our organizations could not be more closely aligned in our shared purposes of Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism.
"One hundred years ago, the Daughters of the American Revolution organization played a significant role in support of the war, by providing volunteers, ambulance drivers, donating their national headquarters for wartime office space, and in so many other ways. They also played a major role in the peace following the war, by donating funds and resources to the tragic victims of the war, to help them rebuild their shattered lives.
"Their generous example, then, and now, truly qualify them as a valued partner for us, on the road ahead."
Read more: World War One Centennial Commission, DAR plan commemoration efforts
Ohio State University to Host the US National World War One Centennial Symposium
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
Ohio State University is hosting the US National World War One Centennial Symposium on Thursday October 27th and on Friday October 28th. The event will be organized by Ohio State University’s Department of History. The symposium will feature many interesting activities.
Some of the activities include, a keynote address by Sir Hew Strachan of the University of St. Andrews. Several Presentations from historians Jennifer Keene, Mark Micale, Jennifer Siegel, John Quigley, Colonel Peter Mansoor, and Bruno Cabanes.
The symposium will also feature a photography exhibition entitled “War & Art: Destruction and Protection of Italian Cultural Heritage During World War I”.
The event is one of a series that are being sponsored by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. Other events in the series can be found on the Commission website ww1cc.org.
To learn more about the symposium and for information on how to register please visit www.u.osu.edu/ww1centennial/
Commission takes Commemoration message to AUSA meeting
By Theresa Sims
Director of Veterans & Military Partnerships, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
How does the US Army celebrate being a Soldier? On October 3rd-5th, World War One Centennial Commission staff and volunteers had an opportunity to share information on 100 years of citizen soldiering, birth of the defense industry, and how we intend to commemorate the Great Sacrifice during the upcoming WW1 Centennial (April 6, 2016 - November 11, 2018) at the 2016 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of U.S. Army, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
Pritzker Military Museum & Library President and CEO Kenneth Clarke (left) with World War One Centennial Commission Special Advisor General Gordon Sullivan at the AUSA Convention on October 4, 2016.
With over 26,000 participants attending the annual event, WW1CC staff were able to talk with thousands of people who stopped by to learn about WW1 Centennial Commission’s efforts to honor and memorialize the 4.7 million veterans who served and the 116,516 Soldiers who gave their lives for our great nation in WW1.
We also met leaders and Soldiers from several legendary US Army units which are steeped in 100 years of history and tradition. We met Commanders and Soldiers of Legacy Units such as the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), 7th Infantry Division (Hourglass Division), 4th Infantry Division (Ivy/Ironhorse), 83rd Division (Thunderbolts), just to name a few.
Read more: Commission takes Commemoration message to AUSA meeting
OSU to Host ‘The War to End All Wars: U.S. National World War One Centennial Symposium
The Ohio State University Department of History, in partnership with the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, will host a symposium marking the 100th anniversary of the war. “The War to End All Wars: U.S. National World War One Centennial Symposium, 1916-2016” will be presented on the Ohio State campus on Thursday, Oct. 27, and Friday, Oct. 28. Most events are free and open to all.
Ohio State was chosen by the commission to host the event “because of the strength of our military history program, which is among the best if not the best in the United States,” explained Peter Mansoor, Colonel, U.S. Army (retired), who is the General Raymond E. Mason, Jr. Chair of Military History. “The symposium is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our program to the local community and through webcasting to the general public and school audiences.”
The event will include a keynote address Thursday evening by Sir Hew Strachan, the world’s leading historian of the First World War. Strachan will discuss the killing fields of 1916, the year that witnessed horrendous fighting at Verdun and on the Somme.
Read more: Ohio State to Host ‘The War to End All Wars: U.S. National World War One Centennial Symposium
#COUNTDOWNTOVETERANSDAY update for October 1, 2016
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
Thank you all for your great help in making the Countdown To Veterans Day 2016 a success in the first week!
To date, we have had some 146 participants post some 768 tweets on Twitter, which have reached an overall potential audience of 1,497,525 people.
On Facebook, posts and re-posts by such friends as the PBS American Experience, DAV, and Navy History & Heritage Command have brought us a potential audience of 1,085,000 people.
- Our Twitter results are: 768 posts, 146 Users, 1,497,525 Impressions.
- Our Facebook audience impressions are over 1,085,000 to date.
For more information, and for opportunities to honor America's Veterans, go to the Countdown to Veterans Day page.
