One of the largest veterans service organizations in the world, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW), has officially partnered with the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission for the Commission's innovative new veterans-awareness program: the WW1 Poppy Program, rolled out by the Commission two weeks ago. Founded in 1899, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is the oldest major veteran’s organization in the nation, and its membership, combined with that of its Auxiliary, stands at nearly 1.7 million people. They fund and manage programs that support veterans, service members and their families, as well as communities, worldwide. Click here to read more about the VFW joining the WW1CC Poppy Program, and how the program will help build the National World War One Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, DC, and assist local VFW Post projects.

Harlem Hellfighters, the fact-based graphic novel by World War Z author Max Brooks, is heading toward a six-hour limited-series on History Channel, developed by actor Will Smith's production company. Hellfighters, illustrated by Caanan White, was based on the real-life U.S. Army's 369th infantry division, an African American unit fighting in Europe during World War I. Breaking down racial barriers, the unit spent more time in combat than any other American unit, never losing a foot of ground to the enemy, or a man to capture, and went on to win countless decorations. They faced tremendous discrimination during the war and even when they returned from the front as heroes. Brooks is a long-time supporter of the Centennial Commission. Read more about the upcoming series here.

To commemorate the centennial of U.S. entry into World War I in 2017, the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center presents a two year-long exhibition, Congress and the World Wars. Through constituent correspondence, petitions, political cartoons, and posters, visitors will be able to see how Congress responded to the issues facing the nation and how that response impacted the lives of Americans and redefined the nation within the world. Dr. Matt Field, Exhibits and Education Program Specialist from the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, is curator of this exhibit, spanning WWI and WWII. He gives his insights on the exhibit, including the important connections between Congress’s actions in April 1917 and December 1941, the remarkable continued relevance of Congress’s actions during World War I to today, and the similarities between the actions during World War I and World War II. Click here for more about the exhibit.

The USA’s World War One Centennial Commission has made Brooke USA’s Horse Heroes campaign an official Centennial Partner, recognizing how America’s horses and mules contributed to the nation's war effort. Of the one million American equines who went to Europe, only 200 returned. In total, eight million horses and mules died in WW1. The role of Horse Heroes will be to remember the American horses and mules who served alongside their brave soldiers. Read more about this equine tribute here.

This week we have a post about Cape May County - where a volunteer has asked the city's help to refurbish their local WW1 Memorial. And they don't know about the 100 cities / 100 Memorials program. Do you know about a local project that could benefit from a matching grant? We are asking for your help in connecting those projects and us together.

This week, the WWrite Blog features another Women's History Month post with Navy Veteran and writer, Jerri Bell. Bell discusses Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a Navy Yeoman who enlisted during WWI as a journalist and afterwards went to work for the Red Cross in Paris to help war refugees.

This experience inspired her dynamic career as a writer of fiction and non-fiction. Stoneman's The Everglades: River of Grass is considered an environmentalist masterpiece and is often compared to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring.

If you have a news item regarding WWI and writing, please contact: jennifer.orth-veillon@worldwar1centennial.org.

Happy Women's month! Looking back at images of The Great War and recognizing the sacrifices made by a generation one century ago, inspired the designs of our metal signs collection.

We hope you appreciate the combination of history and humor in each design.

This and many other official commemorative products are available at the official merchandise shop.