Alabama Senate Approves Resolution Marking the Centennial of American Entry to World War I, Service and Sacrifice by Alabamians

March 15, 2017

March 7 was a banner day for the Alabama WWI Centennial Committee and its efforts to commemorate World War I in our state. Following an informative and productive meeting at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, committee members visited the State Capitol for a preview of a new traveling exhibit called Remembering the Great War: Alabama and World War I. The exhibit was created by staff of the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, the Archives, and industrial design students from Auburn University’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design. It will be on display at the Capitol through next week before it begins traveling to towns and cities across Alabama. Visit rememberingthegreatwar.org for more information about the exhibit and where it is headed next.

Following the exhibit tour, the group took another short walk to the Alabama State House. Committee members watched from the gallery as Senator Phil Williams introduced two special resolutions on the floor. The first marked the beginning of the American Centennial period and honored Alabama’s response to wartime. The second honored the extraordinary service of Honorary Chairman Nimrod (Rod) Frazer to the state through the creation of the Croix Rouge Farm memorial, his book Send the Alabamians, and two additional WWI monuments to be installed in Montgomery this year. "I am proud to be an Alabamian and to have served my state and my country," said Frazer. "It is an honor to remember the soldiers from our state who fought in the Great War, volunteers and draftees ready to place their body in harm’s way for the cause of justice and liberty."

“We are grateful to the Senate for recognizing this important anniversary and for encouraging commemoration activities in their communities throughout the centennial period,” said Committee co-chair Steve Murray.

U.S. WWI Centennial Commissioner Monique Seefried, who was present on the Senate floor, remarked, "I want to congratulate the Alabama WWI Centennial Committee for the work it is doing to educate its citizens about the service of its men and women who served in the War, in battle or on the home front and to commemorate those who gave their life for liberty and peace."

 L-R Senator Phil Williams, Honorary Chairman Rod Frazer, Co-Chairman Maj. Gen. Perry G. Smith, U.S. Commissioner Monique Seefried, Committee member Larry Norred, and Co-Chairman Steve Murray on the Alabama Senate floor.