Obama approves U.S. World War One memorial in Washington

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama has approved the creation of a national memorial to commemorate World War One in which more than 116,000 Americans died, the memorial's commission said on Saturday.

The site will complete the quartet of national memorials in Washington to the four great U.S. wars of the 20th century -- the two world wars, Korea and Vietnam, the World War I Centennial Commission said in a statement.

The new memorial will honor the 4.7 million Americans in the armed forces during the war and the millions who served in a civilian capacity "in a manner commensurate with the memorials to our veterans of the later wars of the 20th century," said Commission Chairman Robert Dalessandro, a retired Army colonel.

The National World War I Memorial will be created by expanding Pershing Park on Pennsylvania Avenue.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/20/us-usa-ww1-memorial-idUSKBN0JY0KS20141220

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WASHINGTON Sat Dec 20, 2014 1:54pm EST

[Historic NY]

1. Finnally, Frank Buckles get his wish.

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Thank you for mentioning him!

[Rhiannon12866]

2. K&R! Long past due!

Both of my grandfathers fought in WWI, though I never met either of them, both survived the war, but died long before I was born. From what I was told, it was extremely brutal. My maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Poland. They made him a citizen and sent him to France. And I was told that my paternal grandfather could never talk about it, though he did tell stories to the children. I have his discharge papers, signed in his own hand. It states that he was "a very good horseman."

[Cooley Hurd]

9. My Grandpa served in the USN during the conflict...

He's 6th from the left bottom row.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Both my grandfathers served in France, guessing they didn't cross paths with yours...

Just grateful that they all came home.

[JI7]

3. why did it take so long ?

[Lulu KC]

4. OK, but may I put in a plug for the National WWI Museum

which is in Kansas City? I haven't brought myself to go but I understand that it is a profound experience, even for people who aren't all that interested in WWI before they visit. Please come visit.

[lastlib]

6. ^ ^ ^ THIS!! ^ ^ ^

It is an AMAZING museum! I was given a tour of it before it was opened to the public, and had occasion to visit it this past Memorial Day. Some exhibits will shake you to your core. If you ever get close to Kansas City, it is well worth going to see it.

link: https://theworldwar.org/

[BadtotheboneBob]

5. I hope special mention is made to...

... the 369th Infantry Regiment, the 'Harlem Hellfighters', an all Black unit that was assigned to be under French command for the duration of the war as so many white American soldiers refused to fight alongside them. The French welcomed them with open arms and treated them as equals (The 369th's Marching Band is credited with introducing jazz music to the French). The 369th fought bravely and distinguished themselves on the battlefield with the French and many personal decorations were given. The first American to be awarded the 'Croix de Guerre', the highest French medal was a 'Hellfighter'. Additionally, two US Medals of Honor and many Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded as well as many more French honors. After the Armistice when the regiment returned to New York (they were a NY National Guard unit), they were not allowed to march in the Victory Parade in New York City with the other units, probably the most egregious act of overt racism ever displayed against such a large, heavily decorated Black unit (to the everlasting shame of the US Army)... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/369th_Infantry_Regiment_%28United_States%29

As a former career military (white) man, Army Medical Corps then Coast Guard Coxswain, I try hard to make this piece of our history known. It should be known. The 369th's treatment offends me greatly. It still should be remembered after all these years. They should now be given the honors denied to them almost a 100 years ago.

[lastlib]

7. K & R for this post!

let their story be told far & wide!

[sarge43]

11. The complete story of minorities in the armed forces needs to be told.

It's sad, outrageous and heartening. Men and women who endured egregious treatment and restrictions, soldiered on and eventually took their rightful place. It's our nation at its worst and its best.

Ken Burn's Jazz series goes into detail about the impact of the 369th Band.

[BadtotheboneBob]

12. Yes!

It is heartening when one thinks of the dedication and lives Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Indigenous Americans gave to the country that mistreated them so frequently. Why did they perform so well, so often, and so bravely? Because they believed in the basic freedoms that this country was founded on and hoped that those freedoms would extend to them and theirs some day. They believed that they'd reach the "mountain top" eventually. I think of their attitudes and perseverance and it humbles me. Volumes could and should be written on this subject.

[sarge43]

13. That great soul Barbara Jordan said it best

What the people want is very simple - they want an America as good as its promise.