WWI Centennial Events Planned
The centennial of the end of WWI is fast approaching. There will be major events across the state beginning the end of September and seminars will be sponsored in the major cities across the state. Dates and times are mentioned on our website at ww1cc.org/nd. WWI North Dakota Centennial Chairman Darrell Dorgan says the group would like you to participate in the momentous event.
Dorgan notes, “We originated the idea of having bells toll and sirens ring on the morning of November 11 at 11:00 a.m. across the nation and state. The National WWI Centennial Commission is now asking all states to participate. We are asking communities across North Dakota to be involved in this tribute by ringing bells and blowing sirens the Morning of November 11 at 11:00 a.m. Details on the event will be released shortly.”
North Dakota WWI committee members have also formally requested that County Veterans Services Officers work with local veteran’s organizations to read the names of the more than 1,300 North Dakotan’s who died in WWI, most in the just last six months of the war in the trenches of France. The committee has requested the names of those who died to be read aloud from the steps of the county courthouse or a place of public gathering, in their county of residence, when the bells are done tolling.
Groups that have events planned to commemorate WWI are also asked to contact the WWI Centennial web site so the events can be listed. The web site manager is Mike Gayette at Gayette@gmail.com. Our website is ww1cc.org/nd and your WWI Centennial events on our list on our website.
A list of those who died during the ‘War-to-End-All-Wars’ will be posted on our website in Mid-September, and those who perished in the fight for freedom will be listed by county and city. The updated list has been compiled by noted historian Barbara Handy-Marcello.
The North Dakota WWI Centennial Committee has also received great support from the North Dakota Humanities Council for a series of community events leading up to the armistice ending WWI, 100-years ago on November 11. We will sponsor lectures and community discussions in six cities during October and the first week of November. Susan Wefald or Darrell Dorgan will moderate each of the events and Susan and the North Dakota Humanities Council to fund the project.
The programs will begin with a 10-minute video presentation with an overview of WWI. That will be followed by a 20 to30 minute talk about WWI; how it began, how the US became
involved, the effort on the home-front, North Dakota's participation, the impact on the world today. That will be followed by 30 minutes of audience Q & A.
The schedule provides for events in Williston on October 16, and MSU Prof. Joseph Jastrzembski will lead the program in Williston and Minot the following night. Both programs will be held in the public libraries and begin at 7:30 p.m.
Prof. Al Berger from UND will lead the Grand Forks lecture on October 23rd at the Grand Forks Public Library at 7:30 p.m.
Prof. Tom Isern will headline the October 24th event in Fargo at the Fargo Public Library at 7:30 p.m.
Prof. Carol Barrett will conduct the Jamestown gathering on October 30. The Jamestown lecture will be held at the Old Stutsman County Courthouse and begin at 7:30 p.m.
Historian Barbara Handy-Marcello leads the Bismarck event on November 7. The Bismarck gathering will be held at the Heritage Center and begin at 7:30 p.m.
Prairie Public Radio has agreed to provide several hours of air-time on November 11th for a conversation about WWI. Many stories written by our committee members about the war will likely be used. They are also considering some programming on television leading up to and on November 11.
Dorgan says, “We look forward to working with groups to help publicize the events of 100 years ago to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by millions across the world and thousands of others from North Dakota