Peter Stassen and his family are remarkable people, who are carrying out a very honorable pursuit. This Flemish family has volunteered to be part of an 'Adopt A Grave' program at the Flanders Field American Cemetery, administered by the American Legion. Flanders Field is a true 'battlefield cemetery', and the area surrounding the site saw intense fighting during the autumn of 1918. Now, however, Flanders Field Cemetery is a place of peace, and contemplation, managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). Most of the 368 military graves there are from this battle. Mr. Stassen is, himself, a retired military member, so he knows a little about service and sacrifice. We spoke to him about his experiences, and his family's efforts to commemorate our American WWI hero.

During the course of World War I, approximately 117,000 American soldiers lost their lives in defense of the United States and its allies. As the centennial of the Armistice of World War I approaches, the National WWI Museum and Memorial and artist Ada Koch honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a moving and powerful art installation. Reflections of Hope: Armistice 1918 features 117 intricate metal poppy sculptures designed by Koch in a symbolic arrangement in the Reflection Pool at the Museum and Memorial. Each poppy represents 1,000 American soldiers killed during the Great War. Click here to read more about how this installation uses the powerful symbolism of the poppy to commemorate American service men and women who lost their lives in World War I.

In August 2018, students from Australia, Canada, France, the UK and the United States came together to tour the former WWI battlefields, as part of the commemoration of the centennial of the war in Amiens, France. Two groups of students came from the U.S., sponsored with help from the US World War I Centennial Commission and the National WWI Museum and Memorial, as part of their joint Education programs. Read more here about the students' expedition, and what they felt about the value of understanding World War I for students today.

The Meridian International Center explored the question of what lessons can be gleaned from the Franco-American relationship that stems back over 250 years during a summer delegation to France that brought U.S. National Guard officials and American diplomats together with French military and political leaders in commemoration of the Second Battle of the Marne, the last major German offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. Meridian partnered with the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission to host 40 leaders including high-ranking U.S. National Guard and French generals, World War I military historians, French senators and mayors, and WWI Centennial Commissioners. Read more here about this gathering and discussion.

In a powerful and pointed article on the U.S. Army Reserve web site entitled "Why World War I Matters," Major Frank Huffman of the U.S. Army Reserve Command talks directly to his fellow soldiers about the "13,484 reasons World War I matters to today’s Army Reserve Soldier. That is the number of Americans killed in action “Over There,” along with another 52,721 who were wounded in the fight."  Click here to read the entire thoughtful article about the profound debt owed by today's soldiers to their World War I forbears.

The clues were in a faded, tattered black-and-white photograph that Johannes Heibel’s father carried with him everywhere. Nearly 100 years after it was taken in a German village, the photo shed light on a family secret that connected Heibel to a cousin he had never known in faraway Tennessee. In this centennial year marking the end of World War I, the discovery illuminates a postwar occupation of Germany that most Americans have never heard of: A quarter-million U.S. troops held some 2,500 square miles of Rhineland for four years after the November 1918 armistice that ended the fighting. Click here to read the entire article about how distant cousins an ocean apart were led to find each other.

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  listen on Youtube. New - Comment and ask questions via twitter @TheWW1podcast

Episode #85
Highlights: 1.5 Million "Over There"

100 years ago: Ready to increase US forces to 4 million | @ 02:10

German perspective on the turn around - Mike Shuster | @ 12:25

Part 2: 28th division - the Pennsylvania Doughboys - Dr. Edward Lengel | @ 16:30

Announcing resources for local Armistice Centennial Events - YourACE | @ 23:15

Spotlight on the media: The Hello Girls - Jim Theres | @ 29:50

Update from the States: Wyoming and Indian Doughboys - Douglas R. Cubbison | @ 37:00

WWI WarTech - Devil’s Rope | @ 44:45

Dispatch Newsletter Highlights | @ 47:50 

BUZZ - Commemoration in Social Media - Katherine Akey | @ 49:55

The Debt of WWII French Resistance Writers to WWI Veterans, Part 2: Jean Moulin

This post is the second in a WWrite series on the debt of WWII French Resistance Writers to WWI Veterans. 

Last week, the blog featured resister Albert Camus and the influence of his father, a WWI soldier who died at the Battle of the Marne. 

This week, WWrite explores the most famous French Resistance icon, Jean Moulin. One of France's most celebrated WWII heroes began his fight in WWI as a soldier and an artist. 

The experience, which he discusses in his book, First Combat, shaped his rise as the leader of France's Resistance Army, also known as the "Army of Shadows." Read the inspiring story of Moulin's voyage across two world wars at WWrite this week!

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Monday's MIA this week is Private John T. Miller. Born on October 4th, 1897, John Miller enlisted in the regular US Army on June 16th, 1916 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He was assigned to the medical department and transferred to Ft. Bliss, Texas. From there he served on the border with Company C, 2st Provisional Field Hospital at El Paso, Texas. He went overseas with the first American combat contingent to go over in June, 1917, where he was assigned to the medical detachment of the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Division. He was killed in action at Chateau Thierry on July 19th, 1918. Buried on the battlefield, his grave was never located.

Would you like to help us solve this case? 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.

Charm Pendant

Proudly wearing the WWI 100 Years charm pendant is a fantastic way to let folks serving in the military, along with veterans, know that we still honor those who served our country one hundred years ago. This satin nickel charm, worn on a necklace or bracelet, is a simple, yet meaningful, way to display your pride and remember those who sacrificed throughout our nation’s great history. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item goes towards funding the building of the national World War One Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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.

Pershing Sponsors