On Monday, June 18th, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz endorsed the new National WWI Memorial in Washington DC, by headlining an event on the USS Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum in New York City. As keynote speaker, he stated "America honors veterans of every major war with a National Memorial in Washington, DC except one, World War I. Thanks to the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, we will finally honor our World War I veterans, a tribute long overdue". Schultz is the son of a former U.S Army veteran. During his tenure, the Starbucks company has been a major supporter of veterans issues, and veteran hiring. Read more about this big event here, and see our Podcast section below for links to audio clips from Schultz's speech in Episode 77.

This year's National History Day Contest was special for the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, because, for the second year in a row, we were able to sponsor special prizes for student projects on the theme of World War I. The WW1CC's World War I prize is awarded to an outstanding entry in both the junior and senior divisions that documents and analyzes a significant aspect of World War I, clearly demonstrating historical relevance to the theme of World War I. Read more about National History Day and see the winners of the WW1CC competition here.

This coming weekend, C-SPAN's American History TV will show a special tour of the Library of Congress exhibit “Echoes of the Great War: American Experiences of World War I”. Library of Congress historian and curator Ryan Reft gives a tour of the exhibit, tracing the history of U.S. participation in World War I using artwork, posters, photographs, films, sheet music, documents, and artifacts. "Echoes of the Great War: American Experiences of World War I" examines the upheaval of world war as Americans confronted it— both at home and abroad. Read more about this C-SPAN special programming here.

Quentin Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s youngest child, was an aviator who fought in the skies above France during World War I. One hundred years ago, on July 14, 1918, Quentin was killed in action. This summer, Sagamore Hill National Historical Site will present a temporary museum exhibit at Old Orchard to commemorate the centennial of Quentin’s death, as well as a number of special programs throughout the month of July. Visitors can immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of World War I while taking photos with Quentin and his training plane. Read more about this National Park Service production here.

Television producer Jake Klim, a native of Cape Cod, MA, grew up knowing vaguely about the day in 1918 that German submarine U-156 surfaced from the depths off the coast of Nauset Beach, and started firing her deck gun at a tugboat and her string of four barges. But it wasn't until 2012, after a lifetime of interest in WWI, that it occurred to Klim that someone should write a book about the event -- and that the "someone" was him. His book Attack on Orleans: The World War I Submarine Raid on Cape Cod is now available from The History Press. In this thoughtful article, Klim talks about the origins of the book, and some of the extraordinary things his research turned up about the all-but-unknown event of 100 years ago.

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, Podbean, TuneIn, Stitcher Radio on Demand.  Spotify NEW Now listen on Youtube.

Episode 77
Highlights:
Howard Schultz on the National WWI Memorial 

The battle on the Italian Front: Piave | @01:45

Germany low on resources and morale - Mike Shuster | @06:30

The untold story of Hill 204 - Dr. Edward Lengel | @10:20

SPECIAL: Howard Schultz on the National WWI Memorial | @16:10

Historian Corner: President Teddy Roosevelt - David Pietrusza | @36:55

Speaking WWI: Tailspin | @43:40

WWI War Tech: Ice City | @45:15

Buzz: WWI in social media - Katherine Akey | @48:20

"Hill 145” is the winner of Consequence Magazine's 2017 Prize in Fiction

New WWI fiction! How has agony been rendered so gracefully? This is the question asked by the narrator in the Ruth Edgett's short story, “Hill 145,” as he gazes up at a WWI memorial. "Hill 145,” the winner of Consequence Magazine's 2017 Prize in Fiction, brings us to 1936 as Canadian WWI veterans return to the French battleground that cost their country 3,598 lives. This week, WWrite features: 
"Hill 145," a story that illuminates the ways war veterans are “well-practiced at moving between worlds” when reconciling their soldiering pasts and civilian presents. Not to miss!

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Monday's MIA this week is Private First Class James Jewell, born 25 April 1893 in Silver Plume, Colorado. There he ranched on his father’s property until moving to Denver and, two years later, to McGill, Nevada. After America declared war, Jewell travelled to San Diego to enlist in the Navy. Rejected because he was too thin for his height, Jewell returned to McGill and his job at the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company to await other developments. On 5 October 1917 he was drafted into the army and went to Camp Lewis in Washington state to train with the 41st Division. With them he travelled to England, landing on Christmas Eve, 1917 and heading across the English Channel to France three days later. On 8 January 1918 he was assigned to Company H, 16th Infantry, 1st Division. That spring, he went into action with his unit on 28 May 1918 in America’s first ever offensive assault, against the town of Cantigny, where PFC Jewell made a good accounting of himself. It was following this action, but in the same sector, that during a heavy bombardment of his unit’s lines by German artillery that PFC Jewell was struck by shell fragments and killed instantly. Nothing further is known at this time.

Would you like to help solve the case of PFC Jewell? Give 'Ten For Them' to Doughboy MIA and help us make a full accounting of the 4,423 American service personnel still listed as missing in action from WW1. Make your tax deductible donation now, with our thanks.

Fly the WW1 Centennial Flag on July 4th this year!

On December 19, 2014, Congress passed legislation designating Pershing Park in the District of Columbia as a national World War One Memorial. The Act authorizes the World War One Centennial Commission to further honor the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War One by developing the Pershing Park Site.

This WW1 Centennial Flag is made of durable nylon and measures 3'x5'.  This flag has the iconic Doughboy silhouette digitally screened onto it and has 2 brass grommets to hang the flag.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item are designated for this endeavor. You can show your support, and help promote the efforts, by proudly displaying your custom flag.A Certificate of Authenticity as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial is included.

This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial.

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