Episode #13 - March 29, 2017

WW1 Centennial News for Wednesday March 29, 2017 Highlights 1. Guest - Commissioner Monique Seefried preview on KC April 6th event @ 06:45 2. News - Doughboy MIA list reduced by 1! @ 13:00 3. News - VFW WW1 section goes live on commission web site @ 14:20 4. Guest - Saving Hallowed Ground’s Memorial Tree Project with John Marks @ 16:45 5. Guest - Brooke USA about horses and mules serving during WW1 with Cindy Rullman @20:35 Much more...----more---- WW1 Centennial News - Weekly Podcast World War One Centennial News:
March 29, 2017 World War One THEN Great War Project

Mike Shuster from the Great War Project is with us today. Hi Mike--- your post this week talks about a really messy situation in europe and a huge catharsis of conscience here in the US… Mike, tell us how this all plays out!
LINK: www.greatwarproject.org/

War in the Sky

Now let’s find out about what was happening with the Great War In The Sky 100 years ago this week. Starting NEXT week, we enter what was known as Bloody April - all related to a British offensive called The Battle of Arras…
But this week, the end of March, 1917 we meet a Canadian born Lieutenant Billy Bishop - Another colorful aviator.
Early on, as a military cadet, he earned acclaim as a hot shot… and I mean a sharp shooter. It was said that he could hit targets that others could only see as dots.
He went to war as an infantry spotter and hated it - most of all he hated the mud of the trenches… Having spotted a RFC plane - he reputedly declared:
"I’ll bet it's clean up there! You won’t get any mud or horse shit on you up there. If you die, at least it would be a clean death."
And so he joined the Royal Flying Corps - and trained to be a pilot.
I am sure the story was not quite as neat as all that - but the fact is - that on March 25 th, 1917 Bishop shoots down a german Albatross D. III as his first aerial combat victory. That is #1 in a tally that goes to 72 making him the UK’s top ace -
and unlike so many others - he survives WWI - including a famous encounter with Baron Von Richthoven - The Red Baron - The German’s called Billy Bishop - Hell’s Handmaiden - and promptly put a big price on his head -
Which no one collects - and Billy Bishop goes on to head UK’s aerial - training plan for WWII then lives until 1956.
A pilot who began his career as a WW1 flying ace 100 years ago this week.
We invite you to learn more about the war in the sky from RG heads wonderful timeline that you'll find at ww1cc.org/warinthesky
LINK: www.ww1cc.org/warinthesky

The Great War Channel

On to history on YouTube - The Great War channel on YouTube. The channel that shows you the history of the First World War, exactly 100 years ago - from a more european perspective. We encourage our listeners to check it out.
This week - the Great War Channel’s new episodes include:

1. Champion for Democracy? - Woodrow Wilson
2. Comparing WW1 Helmet Designs
3. Kaiser Karl Wants Peace - The Sixtus Affair

Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

World War One NOW

Zooming forward to the present - it is time for WW1 NOW - News and events about the centennial and the commemoration.

Commission News

First we have some commission news
Theresa Sims - strategic relations at the WW1 Centennial Commission. Will be speaking with Commissioner Monique Seefried. They will be giving you some insights about the upcoming April 6 event in Kansas City. Welcome to you both.
Link: www.ww1cc.org/april6

Doughboy MIA
Robert Laplander, is the author of the Lost Battalion. He also spearheads the Doughboy MIA project - which we host on the WW1 Centennial Commission’s web site. On that site, Rob has an amazing searchable database of the WW1 MIA - you’ll find at ww1cc.org/mia (all lower case) -
You may not know this, but there are still over 4400 MIAs from WW1 - the US government is not longer trying to resolve these cases - but Rob Laplander and his volunteers are. Their moto : A man is only missing - if he is forgotten! And they are keeping the search alive.
But that is not the story…. Earlier last year, on his own nickel, Mr. Laplander came to DC and with help of one our commission interns, scoured some physical records and noted a doubling up of a name on the official ABMC rolls - of the missing in action. Last week, the ABMC officially agreed with their findings and has adjusted the roll to reflect such.
We thank Robert Laplander and the Doughboy MIA project. Thanks to their dedication - our WW1 MIAs are not forgotten.
Link: ww1cc.org/mia

VFW Site is Live
Speaking of Veterans and WW1 - The veterans of foreign wars have built a VFW and World War 1 section on the commission’s website… and it launched yesterday at ww1cc.org/vfw
The VFW is the first major veteran’s organization that is publishing WW1 information on our site. We welcome them and we thank them for their participation.
The VFW is actively supporting the centennial and are the presenting sponsor for the April 6 commemoration event in Kansas City.
Link: www.ww1cc.org/vfw

Commission Videos
The the declaration of war centennial is just a week away, and with events being planned all over the US - actually all over the world - we wanted to remind you of a great resource we have for you, your organization, and your classroom
Actor Gary Sinise narrated a wonderful series of informational videos called “They Deserve Their Own Memorial”.
There is a 7 minute version that is great for the classroom - there is a 3 minute version idea for fundraiser and special events and there are even 30 second and 60 second PSA (public service announcement) videos that are your to use as you like.
Go to our video library at ww1cc.org/video where you will find these - there is a download button for you to use for sharing, downloading or embedding on your own site.
Link: http://ww1cc.org/video

Updates From The States
First of all - there are April 6 commemoration events happening all over the country. See the national commemoration website at ww1cc.org/april6 and check the side menu under Events Around The Country or go to the national events register at WW1CC.org/events and filter down to you state.

No state outreach call in April
Before we move on, a quick note to our state partners - there won’t be a state outreach call for the month of April. The next one will be held on Thursday, May 4th.
Now let’s widen the view with the international report.
Just a quick story filled we picked because it is funny

International Report

BULLDOG SPIRIT Defiant First World War postcards show the unbreakable spirit of the British people during German bombing raids
From the UK the headlines read: BULLDOG SPIRIT Defiant First World War postcards show the unbreakable spirit of the British people during German bombing raids. A new collection of postcards reveal the brit’s defiant sense of humour in the face of the threat from above. Belonging to aviation expert David Marks, the fascinating archive has been brought together for a new book. During the war people caught in bombing raids often sent the cards to loved ones to let them know they survived. Take a moment don’t miss a chance to see these cards.
Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3162262/postcards-british-defiance-germany-world-war-one/

100 Cities / 100 Memorials

Memorial Tree Program
For 100 cities / 100 memorials there is a new program taking root in America. Sorry for the pun - because with us today is Dr. John Marks the Program Coordinator for Saving Hallowed Ground’s Memorial Tree program. John is a historian who received his Ph.D. in History from Rice University in 2016. John - welcome to the program - tell us a little about Saving Hallowed Ground’s Memorial Tree program.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/100-cities-100-memorials-home.html
John Marks interview
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/100-cities-100-memorials-blog.html

Cindy Rullman interview Brooks USA
Last week on the Buzz, Katherine Akey highlighted an article on the Huffington Post about the noble sacrifice of our nation’s horse and mules during the great war. With us today is Brooke USA’s Special Events and Outreach Manager, Cindy Rullman. Hi Cindy, ------ Cindy tell us more about our equine Heroes.
Cindy interview.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/58cfeba7e4b07112b6472fdd
http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/2017-100-years-on-usa-s-million-war-horses-honored.html

Spotlight in the Media

PBS The great war dates
Today on our spotlight in the media, we just want to take a moment to remind you that the PBS American Experience documentary, “The Great War” will broadcast nationwide on April 10th. If you can’t wait until then, stop by the American Experience website where they have three trailers posted.
Link: http://www.pbs.org/video/2365889106/

Posts and Articles

Four new WW1 exhibits open April 6th at Smithsonian museums
Four new exhibits on World War I open April 6th at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, on April 6th. These exhibits are a collaboration between the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of American History. The new exhibits will look at Women in Uniform, Gen. John J. Pershing and World War I, Modern Medicine and the Great War, and Artistic Expression in the Great War.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/2084-four-new-exhibits-on-world-war-i-open-on-april-6th-at-smithsonian-museums.html

Patrouille de France soars over the Statue of Liberty
The PAF is on the way to our centenary celebration in Kansas City on April 6. They arrived stateside over the weekend and they greeted the nation with a flyover of the statue of liberty. The flyover, and the PAF’s North American tour, serve as a specific thank you from France for America’s early aviators, who came to France’s help during the World War I. We at the commission gladly accept this gesture and we can’t wait to see them perform next week!
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news.html

WWrite Blog
This week on the the WWrite blog, Fulbright Scholar and WWI Poetry Expert, Connie Ruzich, Presents Lt. John Hunter Wickersham. Connie is a University Professor of English at Robert Morris University. She has a background researching the use of poetry in British centenary commemorations of the First World War. Her post this week focuses on Lt. John Hunter Wickersham who was both a poet and a Congressional Medal of Honor hero.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/articles-posts/2094-lt-john-hunter-wickersham.html

The Buzz - WW1 in Social Media Posts

Moving on, let’s see what was going in the world of social media this week. We have Katherine Akey with us again, Katherine, what’s going on our social media conversation wall?

https://overthere1.blogspot.com/2017/03/first-richmond-boy-killed-in-world-war.html

http://www.ktvq.com/story/34996805/women-veterans-of-wwiso-many-stories-yet-to-tell

http://listen.sdpb.org/post/lakota-wwi-code-talkers-receive-congressional-gold-medal

wrapup

Thank you to:
Mike Shuster from the Great War Project,
Commissioner Monique Seefried, from the WW1 Centennial Commission,
Theresa Sims - Strategic Relations from the WW1 Centennial Commission
John Marks from the Saving Hallowed Ground Memorial Tree project
Cindy Rullman, Brooke USA’s Special Events and Outreach Manager
Katherine Akey from our Social Media team
And Justin Mickens our line producer for the show.
I’m Theo Mayer

Thank you all for you time, wisdom and efforts in bringing all this information to everyone.
WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the US WW1 Centennial Commission and the commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. The videos can be found at ww1cc.org/cn. Don’t forget to sign up for our eNewsletter the Weekly DISPATCH.
Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.
Thanks for joining us. and….
Don’t forget to commemorate!
So long.

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