The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission announced today that the National Football League (NFL) has contributed $1 million to the construction of the first-ever National World War I Memorial in Washington D.C. The NFL is now one of the lead donors to the Memorial, along with  the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, the Starr Foundation, General Motors, FedEx, Walmart, the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, the Lounsbery Foundation, and several other corporations and foundations. Click here to read more about the NFL's generous donation to help "provide a site that will tell the world of the sacrifices these men and women made for our liberty a century ago."

The U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Navy, will host a number of cultural activities, and commemorative events, during the U.S. Navy's upcoming Fleet Week New York, from 22-27 May 2019. These activities will help tell the story of the 4 million American men and women, many from the greater New York area, who stepped forward to serve during World War I, 100 years ago. Click here to read more about the schedule of World War I related activities taking place during Fleet Week.

As the commemoration of the Centennial of World War I (2014-19) continues, the National WWI Museum and Memorial serves as a fitting place to honor and recognize the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving their country during Memorial Day weekend. Admission to the Museum and Memorial is free for veterans and active duty military personnel, while general admission for the public is half-price all weekend (Friday-Monday, May 24-27). The Museum and Memorial offers a wide variety of events during the weekend for people of all ages.Click here to read about the entire great schedule of Memorial Day activities.

He was the "goodest boy" of them all. As one of the first U.S. Army service dogs, bull terrier mix Sgt. Stubby endured mustard gas and shrapnel from grenades during his time in World War I France. The long-treasured mascot's bravery and service will be honored with an unveiling of a bronze statue in his likeness at the AKC Museum of the Dog in Manhattan on May 23, where it will be housed permanently. Click here to read more about the ceremony, and why Gen. John J. Pershing awarded the four-legged fighter a medal for his bravery.

Pvt. Sylvester Mushinski was married and the father of three children when he died during World War I. He was a farm boy who grew up in Wild Rose, moved to the Chicago area and then enlisted in the Army in June 1917, then became one of the 116,516 Americans who died in military service during the war. Now, a century after Mushinski's death, an Almond-Bancroft High School social studies teacher Joseph Nowinski will deliver the soldier's eulogy in France, as part of a program offered through National History Day and sponsored by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. Click here to read more about educational journey that Nowinski and 18 other teachers will take to France in June to pay homage to the heroes who died in the war.

The Daily Mail newspaper in the UK has published what it terms "Incredible images from the end of the First World War show brave African-American soldiers as they keep up morale in France – and the infamous Harlem Hellfighters as they return to New York after 191 days at war. The remarkable shots, which were taken in around 1918, depict a proud father holding up eleven stars, one for each of his sons serving; a soldier entertaining his comrades in Orleans, France; and rapturous crowds welcoming the Harlem Hellfighters home." Click here to read more about the 369th, and view the remarkable collection of photographs chronicling their World War I service.

When Claire Lohr was in her 30s and helping her grandmother, Mildred Parker McAleer, clean out her Washington, D.C., home, she rummaged through many items that had familiar names of family members she knew. But there was one item, a leather military Bible, that caught her eye. She opened it and saw a name scribbled inside. “Who’s Leonard Millican?” she asked her grandmother. Click here to read the unexpected World War I story that her grandmother's answer to the question provided about a Burlington hero in the Great War.

On May 5, Iowa's 'Soldiers in White' were honored again, with a special tribute to the women who served during the Great War. A new bronze plaque was dedicated to those nurses next to the World War II Memorial at the State Capitol. The original dedication ceremony to those soldiers was held in 1921. At the time, 10 birch trees were planted near this spot to honor them. Those trees have since been replaced with white oaks, but the bronze plaque is meant to be a lasting symbol for generations to come.  Click here to read more about the ceremony and the new, permanent memorial to the nurses for their service in World War I.

In April 26th's edition of the World War I Centennial News Podcast, Episode 120, host Theo Mayer spoke with Joe Weishaar, the lead designer of the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C. Joe has been dedicated to bringing the memorial to fruition for nearly four years, from the design competition up through the present day. In the interview, Joe catches us up on the status of the memorial as it goes through both the design and regulatory processes. Click here to read a transcript of the program, and learn where the Memorial's progress stands now.

In April 26th's edition of the World War I Centennial News Podcast, Episode 120, host Theo Mayer interviewed Leah Tams, a Program Associate based at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, about a very interesting animal contributor to the American war effort. We've all heard about dogs like Sgt. Stubby, and horses, and many mascot animals. But click here to read the transcript of the entire program to find out how even invertebrates played important roles as the Americans slugged it out with the Germans in WWI.

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

Ep. #122
Highlights:US Navy
NC-4, first to fly Atlantic

Host - Theo Mayer

100 years Ago: US Navy NC-4, first to fly Atlantic - Host | 02:06

Ultimatum to Germany: Sign or face renewed war - Mike Shuster | 16:35

War Memoirs from WWI: “Hervey Allen”  -
Dr. Edward Lengel | 29:35

FREE WWI Genealogy Research Guide -
Host | 26:00

Fleet Week New York 2019 -
“Corky” Erie and Beth Baker | 27:25

Articles & Posts: Highlights from Dispatch -
Host | 39:30

The Debt of WWII Resistance Fighters to WWI Veterans

Part 4. Marc Bloch, a History Lesson

By Jennifer Orth-Veillon

On June 16, 1944, ten days after the Americans landed in Normandy on D-Day, the Gestapo massacred 29 French Resisters. Among them was Marc Bloch, one of the world's most important historians.

This was not the first time Bloch, a Jew from Alsace and Professor at the Sorbonne, had taken up arms against the Germans.

In this post, WWrite Curator Jennifer Orth-Veillon discusses Bloch's incredible trajectory from Legion of Honor WWI leader to WWII French Resistance hero.

Read about Bloch and the ways in which WWI shaped his pathbreaking approach to history at WWrite this week!

In 1914, America’s Poetry magazine sponsored a “War Poetry Competition.”

The magazine received over 700 entries and selected 14 poems to be published.

Read one of the winning poems ­—Alice Corbin Henderson’s “Fallen”—and learn more about America’s early response to the war in this post on Behind Their Lines.

8" X 12" WWI flags for Memorial Day

The WW1 Centennial Flag is made of durable nylon and measures 8 inches x 12 inches.  It sports the iconic Doughboy silhouette digitally screened onto it and is secured on a 15.75" wooden dowel with a decorative ball on top .  

It also features "Double Honors", because a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item are designated for the America's National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park, in Washington DC.

This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial.

Pershing Sponsors