Two years from this August will mark the 100 year anniversary of World War I. Most Americans, including myself, know very little about this war because it didn’t consume the everyday lives of Americans as World War II did. One reason for this was the war ended in November of 1918 and the US didn’t enter the war until 1917 and of the 11 million casualties, only 107,000 of those were US soldiers. For those Americans whose grandfathers fought in WW I, we know a little bit about the war because world history classes still covered elements of the war, but I’m not sure if this is the case in today’s world history classes, other than perhaps a footnote. I do know that my 24 year old son and 49 year old son-in-law know practically nothing about the war.
I suppose the lack of this knowledge isn’t critical to anyone’s future, but it does show disrespect for the millions of soldiers from other countries that gave their lives. A case in point is Veterans’ Day. If someone would asked anyone over the age of 50 what is the meaning behind Veterans Day, they may or may not know. For those that think they know might say that it is meant to honor those American soldiers that died in previous wars, which is partially correct, but I dare say that the meaning becomes less clear for those younger than 50. Actually the 11th of November was set aside to honor those that died in the “Great War”, and it was called Armistice Day. For it was on the 11th of November 1918 at 11 o’clock in the morning that all hostilities ended. For many years US WWI veterans would occupy highway intersections and sell paper poppies to help disable veterans as well as honor those soldiers buried under the poppies fields in Flanders, France. It is only in the US that Armistice Day has changed to Veterans Day. The change took place sometime after WWII when the US Congress decided that November 11th should honor all US soldiers that died during all wars not just those of WW I, which I agree with, but I also acknowledge that it further dilutes our awareness of WW I. Like most people I didn’t give Armistice or Veterans Day a great deal of thought until I came into possession of my paternal grandfather’s WWI journal. As a child I remember hearing that my maternal grandfather served in the US Army during the war, but I didn’t know that my other grandfather served with the British Royal Field Artillery during the war. In fact it was during transcribing and researching his journal that I started to learn the history surrounding WW I. Now I believe that it is time for all sources available for the distribution of information within the United States to make a concerted effort to inform the American citizens the basic history of World War I. If this can be achieved, I’m certain that in August 2014 Americans will have a greater appreciation of the sacrifices that were made 100 years ago.

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