World War 1 Speakers
10 presentations that are available from Michigan's WW1 Centennial Commission and the contact information:
1) Save The Flags presented by Matt VanAcker, Chairperson Donation PH 517 373 5157 mvanacker@legislature.mi.gov
Approximately 90,000 Michigan soldiers fought in the American Civil War and almost 15,000 made the ultimate sacrifice. The bullet torn, blood stained battle flags that these men carried and died beneath were their proudest possessions, they stood for the Union, for their loved ones back home and also as the rallying point in combat. The Michigan Capitol Battle Flag collection, includes 240 battle flags carried by Michigan soldiers in the Civil War, the Spanish American War and World War I. Talk includes flag terminology, the importance of flags in battle, some specific regimental histories in connection with the flags and the history of the collection including current conservation efforts.
2) Dress Rehearsal for the Arsenal of Democracy Chris Causley Donation chris.causley@mimths.org
During World War 2, Detroit became the Arsenal of Democracy but how did it get that name? Twenty years before during the Great War Detroit did the center for the United States war effort.
3) Michigan State Troops Chris Causley Donation
After the National Guard was Federalized, who could the Governor call on to restore the peace or help with natural disasters? The Michigan State Troops were form for this purpose. They are still in existence 100 years later as the Michigan Volunteer Defense Force.
4) The Battle of Jutland James Spurr Donation ph (513) 381-0130 spurr@millercanfield.com
The biggest Naval battle of the World War between Germany and Great Britain
5) The First Six Weeks of the Great War James Spurr Donation
What actually happen during the early part of the Great War before both sides were bogged down in trench warfare?
6) Peace and the Conference in Paris 1919 James Spurr Donation
A look at what went on at and during the Peace Conference for the “War to End All Wars”.
7) The American Legion and the World War Mark Sutton Donation mark@michiganlegion.org
Michigan’s effort in the World War and the birth of the American Legion.
8) Polar Bears; The American North Russia Expeditionary Force, ANREF Mike Grobbel Donations mike@grobbel.org
Polar Bears; The American North Russia Expeditionary Force, ANREF Michigan Military Technical & Historical SocietyIs proud to presentPolar Bears;The American North Russia Expeditionary Force, ANREF 1918-1919 A presentation by Mike GrobbelSunday February 18th at 2:00pmAdmission by donationDuring the Russian Civil War of 1918, the Western Allies, fearful that war material shipped to the old Czarist regime might fall into the hands of the Bolsheviks, asked the United States to provide men in order to secure the materials shipped there. Many of these men came from the Detroit area. Mike Grobbel is a historian with the Michigan Military & Space Heroes Museum in Frankenmuth.
8) Michigan in WW1, Stories of the Home Front Dennis Skupinski Donation ph 734 358 2099 dennis_skupinski@yahoo.com
Michigan’s contribution to the World War was more than just its service people. It was the center for a spy ring, starting point of the peace movement, center for airplane production and armaments and so much more.
9) Grand Rapids Airplane Company Dennis Skupinski Donation
Grand Rapids became bomber city during the world war, learn how the men and women of the city made this happen.
10) Rosie’s Mom and other stories of the WW1 Homefront Dennis Skupinski Donation
During World War 2, Rosie the Riveter becoming the symbol of the working women. Was she an orphan? No, during the Great War, twenty years before her mom worked building the armaments for the World War!
11) The Liberty Truck and How it Changed to World
In 1917, The United States went to war in France. The U.S. Army was short of everything and needed to ramp up the size of the Army to meet the demands of the World War. The Army logistics train included ships, trains horses, mules and trucks. The Punitive Expedition into Mexico during 1916 taught the army that it need a standard medium load truck to haul supplies from the railhead to the front line troops. During 1916, they had over 100 different types of trucks in service on the Mexican Border. This created a logistics nightmare and the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and the Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.) joined forces to create the first military truck design called the Standard B Truck or the "Liberty Truck". This replaced the horse/mule carts and gave the army more mobility which would fundamentally change the nature of warfare.
Please contact Dennis Skupinski 734 358 2099 or dennis_skupinski@yahoo.com if you have any questions,
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From: dennis skupinski [mailto:dennis_skupinski@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2