11-11-11 and 11-11-18. WWI, Armistice Day Centennial, US WWI Memorial.

[Walker]

So, it just occurred to me after a thread over at masseffectx that this year is the 93rd anniversary of the end of WWI, and that we're 7 years short of the 100th.

That also reminded me that, going on a hundred years, there's still no national WWI memorial in the United States. There's a museum or Kansas City or somewhere, and there's the DC WWI memorial on the Mall, near the other national monuments but, like I said, only the DC memorial.

True, give credit where credit is due, they're renovating the DC memorial. It had been overgrown and moldy and secluded, and now they're working on it. But I still think that they should make a national memorial. Maybe add on to the DC one.

And please, no one give me any **** here. I realize that the US entered WWI late, and that our 4 million or so soldiers didn't see all that much action and that we lost far fewer troops than most of the main participants-- a bit more than 100,000, according to Wikipedia. But that war was brutal and monstrous, and laid the groundwork for so much else that happened in the 20th century.

I think it should be remembered. So, anybody else have an opinion?

Again, please refrain from saying anything like, "oh, what are you talking about, the UK and France lost so many more people than the US and you guys had nothing to do with it." (EDIT: I just realized that I forgot to mention Russia. I am also aware that they took ruinous casualties before they dropped out to deal with their civil war/revolution. )I realize that the US was not a major participant. That doesn't mean that a 100,000 dead men should be ignored.

 

[Purple Nurple]

I think the Armistice memorials are really important - there's a school in my city that has a decent CCF that does amazing displays each year, didnt go this last year though.

Also, something I've been meaning to find out for a while, but do other countries wear poppies on Armistice day as well? My history is really terrible.

And you never know, they could be renovating the DC memorial for a revamp for the centenary.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

who cares about world war 1? nobody, that's why it got updated with world war 2.
celebrating something obsolete is just silly.

 

[D3m190d]

We're rethinking WW2 each year, and have to stay silent for 2 minutes. Frankly, I'm not liking it. I respect those that dies in that horrible war, and 2 minutes in a year is not much, but I just feel like it's gliding more and more into the past we should leave behind, and I'm always bored when I have to think about whatever is connected to it. IF I want to know what it was like, I'll aks my grandfather.

Now that that's over: I have no idea about WW1, and I don't live in America, so I don't have much mroe to contribute.

 

[Arseface]

Australians really love the idea of WWI, because it was where we broke our war virginity. Given the... not so much glorification, but romance we associate with it, we've got memorials for it all over the place.

Also, something I've been meaning to find out for a while, but do other countries wear poppies on Armistice day as well? My history is really terrible.

We do.

 

[Tsuyu]

WWI will always be over-shadowed by WWII, sadly.

 

[D3m190d]

WWI will always be over-shadowed by WWII, sadly.

What's WWI? I don't now an actual WWI. IT's a myth, like Belgium and the internet.

 

[Firis]

It upsets me that there isn't a monument here, and that it doesn't get much notice in the media outlets such as Commercials, TV, Movies or Games.

 

[HobbeBrain]

People always seem to care more about the Second World War over the First, and considering the First was probably worse (for the people involved, not statistics sayign 'More people died in WW2' and stuff) as it was in it's own way a revolution.

But seriosuly Walker, oh, what are you talking about, the UK and France lost so many more people than the US and you guys had nothing to do with it.

 

[Monrizzo]

Actually I'm in the process of writng a book(or short story, depending on how much I get done) about a German soilder in WWI who refuses to bow to the Nazi's and is thusly thrown into Auschwitz.

Sorry for that self-plug

Anyway yeah I definetly think there should be a national memorial in the U.S.

 

[SelfAppointedGunslinger]

Actually I'm in the process of writng a book(or short story, depending on how much I get done) about a German soilder in WWI who refuses to bow to the Nazi's and is thusly thrown into Auschwitz.

I like this idea, it has the making of a good story.

 

[Tsuyu]

..except there were no Nazis in WWI?

 

[ScareCrowReturn]

You really think that people are going to give a **** about what happened 93 years ago? Sadly, No they wont, I'd liek to think that people would have a day of "Silence" and thank all the soldiers in their own way for risking their lives or dieing for what they believed in.

Maybe if it happened a few years ago, sure, but not anymore.

 

[SelfAppointedGunslinger]

..except there were no Nazis in WWI?

No he meant a WW1 veteran who opposes them during the 1930's-40's after WW1.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

R.I.P. Harry Patch

i only know who he is because of this

 

[handsdown65]

To tells the truths I don't have a clue about WWI. Maybe I should have paid more attention in school but seems everyone only cares for WW2.

 

[Tsuyu]

WWI didn't have no Hitler. No Holocaust. Military-wise it was a horrible war with lots of people either dying or suffering from the lifelong effects of things like gas.

But it didn't have any other atrocities, and let's face it, Hitler and Pals fascinates us.

 

[Walker]

Which is... kinda ****ed. I think the war was important.

 

[Angel]

I've always had far more of an interest in WWI than the second one - not least because you can say stuff about the first world war and not get anyone's back up. WWII stuff makes people so incredibly sensitive, even if it didn't directly affect them in any way, shape or form.

The Imperial War Museum in London has some really fascinating stuff to do with the first war, including a life-size replica of a trench with all the stuff in, models of soldiers, little model rats on the floor, the sounds of shells falling and the stink of what it was like in there. Honestly, that smell stayed with me for such a long time. I think most of the class puked on the coach home, it was that bad. It was so incredibly interesting all the stuff that was quickly developed to fight the war, a lot of it previously unthinkable.

Thing is, almost every single person who had anything to do with WWI is now dead and therefore, in the eyes of many, forgotten. No one is left to fight their corner whereas WWII veterans are still very much alive and kicking. But WWI was called the Great War for a reason - I think for the place it took in our history it deserves respect and remembrance.