Today is Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day. Ninety years ago today, at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, World War I ended. At the time, it was referred to as "The Great War", or "The War to End All Wars". Little did people know that the terms of the treaty would build such resentment among the Germans that they would eventually allow Adolph Hitler to come to power.
Since we just finished reading "All Quiet on the Western Front", and have begun to watch the film of the same name, I thought you might enjoy some links to World War I information. Here's a story about two Bell County men who both claimed to be the first to carry an American flag into battle in WW I. http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2008/11/11/53599
Here's a story about how cigarettes became popular as a result of WW I: http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2008/11/10/53578
Remember kids, don't smoke.
One more story: the Bell County men who died for their country during WW I. http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2008/11/09/53563
Finally, let's hear it for Frank Buckles. He is the only known American WW I survivor. He was only 16 when he enlisted in 1917. During the war, Buckles drove ambulances and motorcyles for the 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment section of the U.S Army. After the Armistice in 1918, Buckles escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. He went back into the Army during WW II. He was captured by the Japanese when they overran Manila, The Phillipines, and spent 3 years in a prisoner of war camp. Today, Mr. Buckles lives in Charles Town (not Charleston), West Virginia. He's 107 years old!
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