It may have surprised spectators at the parade to learn that the pristine Model T – and hundreds of others just like it – actually played an important part in helping the Allied forces win World War I. Writer Anthony Hayes in the Baltimore Post Examiner tells the amazing World War I history behind the quaint pie truck and its owners.

For the 369th Experience concert series in NYC over Memorial Day weekend, we created a new kind of ONLINE experience on our web site as well. We pulled together social media posts from Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube all tagged with #369Experience. All the pictures and video come together on the Commission website at ww1cc.org/369th-experience-gallery.html to provide a wonderful social media story that spans history, the concerts and the experience of the participants. Check out the photo gallery here.

Tony Perry, long-time reporter for the Los Angeles Times who made multiple trips to Iraq and Afghanistan during his writing career, takes a thoughtful look at the Battle of Belleau Wood, which began on June 1, 1918, in an exclusive article for the US World War Centennial Commission web site. Perry notes that "historians have concluded that, from the beginning, the (German) High Command knew that the significance of Belleau Wood was not which side could capture and hold terrain. The significance was whether the Americans, whose numbers were rapidly increasing along the front, could face the Germans as equals." Read how the Marine Corps answered that question definitively in 1918 here.

The Defense Media Network also writes about Belleau Wood this week, pointing out how pivotal the battle was for the entire war. Noting that in 1918 the Allied armies "having been bled white and wracked by mutiny after three horrific years of trench warfare, were at the breaking point,"  and the "last hope" for victory were the American forces which were starting to arrive, writer Dwight Jon Zimmerman says that "The question on both sides of the trenches was not if the growing number of American units would fight, but rather how well? Only combat would answer that question."  Read the entire DMN article.

The Great War may have ended 100 years ago, but the ways in which it influences and affects the generations today are diverse and fascinating. Upon receiving the diary of his grandfather, a World War I veteran, writer and photographer Jeffrey Lowdermilk was inspired to honor the memory of George A. Carlson by traversing the same journey he took across Europe, reliving the experiences by visiting the towns, battlefields, and landscapes described in the diary. He has since published a book, Honoring The Doughboys, Following My Grandfather’s WWI Diary, describing his journey, accompanied with contemporary photographs of the places he visited as well as diary excerpts. In addition, Mr. Lowdermilk has donated several copies of Honoring the Doughboys to the Centennial Commission’s Memorial Fund. We asked him a few questions about his donation as well as the journey in his book, 

A new nationwide campaign to commemorate the centenary of World War One and raise funds for military charities was launched across the United States this week. The campaign is called ‘There But Not There’ and all across the United States, six foot tall, life size Soldier Silhouettes have sprung up to remind people of the great contribution made by U.S. and allied forces 100 years ago. The campaign is a U.S. World War 1 Centennial Commission Commemorative Partner. Members of the public are being encouraged to buy 10 inch versions of the poignant silhouettes, made by veterans, to raise funds for U.S. and British military charities. Read more about the program and how you and/or  your organization can be involved.

A new monument in Connecticut honors service animals -- with a statue of one of the nation's most famous war dogs. The sculpture, "Stubby Salutes," was unveiled Saturday in Veterans Memorial Park in Middletown. US World War One Centennial Commission (WW1CC) Commissioner John Monahan (on right in photo at right) was among the notables participating in the dedication ceremony. SGT Stubby was a Boston-terrier mix that traveled to Europe with the U.S. Army's renown 26th "Yankee Division" during World War I. His story was the subject of a major animated movie last month, "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero"  which was endorsed by the WW1CC. The new bronze sculpture, created by artist Susan Bahary, is the culmination of a three-decade effort to create a memorial, spearheaded by the family of Robert Conroy, the army corporal who adopted Stubby during training. Read more about the sculpture and the ceremony here.

In the Commission office, we hear about various education and commemoration projects happening this year from all over the United States, as well as some happening in other countries. We are thrilled to hear of such activities, because this is how the stories of our WWI veterans will be remembered and passed on. We recently received word of a remarkable efforts in France's Puy-de-Dome region, that we wanted to share, because of its truly unique scope and location. Entitled “Remembrance and Commemoration”, it is a two-part project that includes long-term research, and a series of commemoration events from 2017-2019. The program is being led by Eddy Oziol, History Department Professor at the academy of Clermont-Ferrand. Professor Oziol is a noted historian, and collector of objects and documents regarding WWI and conflicts of the 20th Century. We had a chance to talk to him about their upcoming Memorial Day commemoration event, and the ongoing research efforts, as his students made Memorial Day preparations.

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 #73:
A lotta shelling going on!

100 years ago this week: Drafting the young and the “idlers” | @01:15

War in the Sky: From Signal Corps to US Army Air Service | @07:40

Cantigny: AEF on the offensive - Mike Shuster & Dr. Edward Lengel | @11:15

Great War Channel: The Fightin-est Marine - Indy Neidell | @17:15

369th Experience in NYC memorial weekend | @18:25

The Moralis: New Woodrow Wilson Book - Prof. Patricia O’Toole | @21:15

Update from the States: Artillery, dissenters and shells - Michael Hitt | @27:15

Remembering Vets: PTSD and Trauma - Dr. Jason Crouthamel | @32:45

Speaking WWI: Some onomatopoeia -Whizzband, Crump and Dud | @39:35

WW1 War Tech: The bicycle in WW1 | @41:15

Weekly Dispatch: Article highlights from the newsletter | @44:25

The Buzz: Commemoration in Social Media - Katherine Akey | @46:25

I Never Saw Him Drowning: Great-Uncle Charlie
and the Great War

By Philip Metres

American WWI soldier, Charlie Fitzpatrick, seems to have died two times. In 1918, he was pronounced dead to his sister, Sheila. In 1968, fifty years later, Sheila received a letter from the VA reporting the recent death of her brother. This week on WWrite, Philip Metres tells the story of his Great-Uncle Charlie, of his veteran father, and of his own exploration of war through writing and poetry. Don't miss this moving Memorial Day post!

A man is only missing if he is forgotten. 

Monday's MIA this week is Private Verne Blythe, born in Marshall, Indiana on May 28th in 1892. Blythe was working as a telegraph operator in Danville, Illinois before the war for what would eventually become AT&T when he enlisted in early June, 1917. He received his training at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas before embarking for overseas duty on February 19th, 1918 as a member of Company C, 5th Field Signal Battalion which was part of the 3rd Division. During the second battle of the Marne – where the 3rd would gain everlasting fame as the ‘Rock of the Marne Division’ – Private Blythe was severely wounded by artillery fire on July 15th, 1918, and died soon thereafter. Little more of his story known at this time, but it is currently believed that he may have later been buried as an Unknown. 

Can you spare just ten dollars? 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.

“Nothing Stops These Men” – Custom Key Tag: $9.95

Still one of the favorite commemoration items this handsome key tag is a great addition to your keys!

Inspired by an original World War One poster, this key tag features the dramatic image of a bayonet advance on the enemy, with the United States flag in the upper corner.

A functional way to show your patriotism, this  1-1/4” long, custom key tag has a bright gold finish, with color-fill, and is offered exclusively through the World War One Centennial Commission.This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial.

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