Just over one hundred years ago, a young art student in Philadelphia named Edward Shenton joined the National Guard. Before going to training camp, he stocked up on art supplies, including many canvas-bound sketchbooks. He kept a sketchbok with him every day for the next two years, and drew in them constantly: in training camps, in combat in France, and after the Armistice. When Shenton returned home, he hoped to publish his stories and drawings, but sadly, he found that people only wanted to forget the war. Shenton put his sketchbooks away, and went on to become one of the nation's premier book and magazine illustrators from the 1920s through the 40s. He passed away in 1977 after a fifty-year-long career, and only then did his son find the drawings. Editor/historian Rex Passion has brought Edward Shenton’s Lost Sketchbooks back into light with a book and and a new section of the World War One Centennial Commission's web site. Read more about the amazing legacy of a remarkable artist here.

Utah sculptor LeRoy Transfield had two uncles who served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Native Contingent during World War I, so he had a real personal connection to the conflict when he put together his design proposal for the 2018 World War I American Veterans Centennial silver dollar. He'd never sculpted a coin before, "but in the end, I came up with something I was really happy with. When I sent it off, I didn’t know if it was going to do well or not, but at least it was something I could put my name on." He did pretty well: Transfield's design was selected by the U.S. Mint for the 2018 coin that will help fund the National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, D.C. Click here to read more about Transfield's creative process, and how he came up with the winning design.

Associated Press reported Jennifer McDermott from Rhode Island penned a great article called: "World War I's Neglected Monuments Getting Spruced Up" in which she profiles several of the Round#1 awardee projects.

The article was picked up nationally by a number of metro papers including the LA Times as well as various local publications.

You can read the article and see the pictures on the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials blog.

Texas has a great new Veterans Day 2017 initiative, "100 Years/100 Schools", that is being co-sponsored by the Texas World War I Centennial Commission, the Texas Historical Commission, and the Texas State Historical Association. "100 Years/100 Schools" aims to connect Texas schools who typically have some kind of annual Veterans Day ceremony. By linking these events together, the sponsors will help them to tell the story of Texas and Texans in the Great War to school students. Over 190,000 Texans served, and 5,171 of them gave their lives during the war. Read more about the big Texas "100 Years/100 Schools" initiative here.

Last month, we announced our participation in “Teaching Literacy Through History”, a great new professional education program presented by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the nation’s leading American history organization dedicated to K-12 education. The American Legion and the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission have partnered with Gilder Lehman for a special “Teaching Literacy Through History” program focused on World War I. The World War I program has been slated to take place in six cities across the country by the end of the current academic year. This week, those six locations/date are officially announced. Click here to find out when, where, and how teachers can get this WWI training.

Ask people to name the most famous historical woman of science and their answer will likely be: Madame Marie Curie. Push further and ask what she did, and they might say it was something related to radioactivity. (She actually discovered the radioisotopes radium and polonium.) Some might also know that she was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. (She actually won two.) But few will know she was also a major hero of World War I. In fact, a visitor to her Paris laboratory in October of 1917 – 100 years ago this month – would not have found either her or her radium on the premises. Her radium was in hiding and she was at war. Curie decided to redirect her scientific skills toward the war effort; not to make weapons, but to save lives. Click here to read more about how Curie started an emergency medical revolution that is still saving the lives of both soldiers and civilians even today.

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is hosting “World War 100: A Centennial Symposium” on October 27-28 in Madison. The event is in partnership with the Wisconsin World War I Centennial Commission, the Wisconsin Historical Society, the War in Society and Culture Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation. The symposium is open to the public and will honor the centennial observance of World War I, bringing national and international scholars together to examine the Great War and its legacy. To get more information, we connected with one of the hosts for the event, Michael Telzrow, who is Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, which is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

The WW1 Centennial News Podcast is about WW1 THEN: 100 years ago this week, and it's about WW1 NOW: News and updates about the centennial and the commemoration. 

Available on our web site, iTunes, Google Play, and TuneIn or on Amazon Echo - Ask: "Alexa, play W W 1 Centennial News Podcast"

Episode #41
Highlights: 

America’s youth goes to war |@01:20

Russia stalls - Germany attacks -Mike Shuster |@08:05

Building the DH-4 bomber |@11:30

WW1 Commemoration flags for Veterans Day |@14:50

DHS and WW1 - Allison Finkelstein and Zack Wilske |@15:40

“World War 100” and “1917: America Joins The Fight” symposia |@23:05

Speaking WW1 - Cushie! |@25:15

100C/100M in Trafford, PA - Andrew Capets |@26:35

WW1CC.org/edu goes live |@31:55

The Lost Sketchbooks - Rex Passion |@32:45

Roll of Honor Foundation - Jerry Michaud |@39:15

WWrite Blog: “God Armeth the Patriot” |@45:35

If you are interested in WWI and its centennial commemoration, we have a great way for you to demonstrate your interest to others. GO SHOPPING at the Official Merchandise Store of the United States World War One Centennial.

The shop is filled with unique, interesting and even quirky items that you will find nowhere else.

Items range from wearables, to jewelry, to display items, to music, posters, replica items even limited edition cast statuary.

Many items are very affordable like four dollar bumper stickers or window decals...

and some items are a serious purchase - like our unique replica WW1 era bivouac tent for $2268! 

And everything in between! Display your commemoration proudly and honor our veterans doughboys. 

A portion of all proceeds of every piece of merchandise goes to building America's WWI Memorial in Washington DC.

If you have never been to or it's been a while since you visited - CLICK HERE and take a look around the official WWI Centennial Merchandise Shop.