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 the entire article on the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette web site here:

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