Commemorative Partners

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

The Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.

The American Legion appoints one Commissioner to the United States World War One Centennial Commission.

The National World War I Museum and Memorial is America's museum dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum fulfills its mission by:• Maintaining the Liberty Memorial as a beacon of freedom and a symbol of the courage, patriotism, sacrifice, and honor of all who served in World War I

• Interpreting the history of World War I to encourage public involvement and informed decision-making
• Providing exhibitions and educational programs that engage diverse audiences
• Collecting and preserving historical materials with the highest professional standards

The National World War I Museum and Memorial appoints one Commissioner to the United States World War One Centennial Commission.

The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is the Founding Sponsor for the Centennial commemoration. The mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is to acquire and maintain an accessible collection of materials and to develop appropriate programs focusing on the Citizen Soldier in the preservation of democracy. Colonel J.N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), founder of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, assembled a major collection of books and related materials on military history, with a particular focus on the concept of the Citizen Soldier in America. Today, building upon that foundation through the generosity of private donors, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library has become a non-partisan research organization that attempts to increase the public understanding of military history and the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served. In a democratic society, it is important for people of all viewpoints to have an open, public forum to discuss the past, present, and future of the military. Through its collection and its programs, the Museum & Library is dedicated to serving as a forum for those discussions and preserving them for future generations. Since opening in 2003, the Museum & Library has hosted more than 400 events featuring the country's most acclaimed authors, historians, journalists, and scholars.

For America's sea services, the United States Navy Memorial is the triumph of a centuries-old dream. In the early days of America's national independence, architect Pierre L'Enfant envisioned a memorial in the Nation’s Capital to:

"..to celebrate the first rise of the Navy and consecrate its progress and achievements."

Pierre L'Enfant - Architect

The non-profit United States Navy Memorial organization was founded in 1977. In 1980, Congress approved construction of a Navy Memorial on public land in the District of Columbia. Construction began in December 1985, and the Memorial was dedicated two years later on October 13, 1987, the 212th birthday of the United States Navy.

The Center Of Military History (CMH) is responsible for the appropriate use of history throughout the United States Army. Traditionally, this mission has meant recording the official history of the Army in both peace and war, while advising the Army Staff on historical matters. In terms of this tradition, the Center traces its lineage back to those historians under the Secretary of War who compiled the Official Records of the Rebellion, a monumental history of the Civil War begun in 1874, and to a similar work on World War One prepared by the Historical Section of the Army War College. Today the Center is one of the major publishers of military history in the world.

CMH provides historical support to the Army Secretariat and Staff, contributing essential background information for decision making, staff actions, command information programs, and public statements by Army officials. The Center provides all levels of the Army, as well as other services, government agencies, and the public, with a growing awareness of history that goes well beyond publications alone.

The American Battle Monuments Commission, established by the Congress in 1923, is the agency of the executive branch of the Federal government that serves as the guardian of America's overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials that honor the service, achievements and sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

ABMC's commemorative mission includes:

• Designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent American cemeteries in foreign countries.
• Establishing and maintaining U.S. military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917, and within the United States when directed by public law.
• Controlling the design and construction of permanent U.S. military monuments and markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encouraging their maintenance.

The Pershing Rifles Group is the organizational parent of the National Society of Pershing Rifles, which was founded in 1894 by cadets at the University of Nebraska, who named the organization in honor of then-Second Lieutenant John J. Pershing, then the university's Professor of Military Science, who went on to become General of the Armies of the United States and Commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in The Great War. Over the years, the organization expanded from its Nebraska roots to become the premier national military fraternal organization for Army and Air Force ROTC cadets and Navy ROTC midshipmen. Pershing Rifles alumni continue to exemplify Pershing’s “highest ideals” in the service of the nation, serving with valor and distinction in every armed conflict since the Spanish American War and producing countless General and Flag officers, political leaders, and cultural figures, including luminaries like former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairmen General Colin Powell (City College of New York) and Hugh Shelton (North Carolina State), former Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtis Lemay (Ohio State), and former Army Vice Chief of Staff General Jack Keane (Fordham). Also worthy of mention is actor James Earl Jones (University of Michigan), the fabled voice of Darth Vader. Alumni ranks also include untold numbers who made the supreme sacrifice, including World War II Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Corps Major Kenneth D. Bailey (University of Illinois). More 600 ROTC cadet and midshipmen active members continue to carry on the Pershing tradition at over 60 leading colleges and universities across the country.

The World War One Memorial Inventory project is a nationwide inventory effort that seeks to identify, document, and preliminarily assesses the condition of the country's World War One memorials and monuments. The effort is intended to raise public awareness of the presence, and in many cases, sadly, the plight of these historic monuments and memorials, as a necessary first step to ensuring their conservation and preservation.

Saving Hallowed Ground promotes engagement with and appreciation of the past by connecting individuals and communities with historic preservation and commemoration initiatives.

The organization works to generate a deep link between communities and local history by involving individuals in the work of historic preservation and commemoration. By engaging in historic preservation activities, planting memorial trees, and unfurling our American flag, they strive to strengthen the links between individuals and the history of the communities in which they live. By encouraging communities to think deeply about their history and to actively participate in preservation and commemoration initiatives, their goal is to help create a stronger appreciation of the past, a deeper level of civic engagement, and a firmer commitment to the good stewardship of community resources.

As an official commemorative partner of the National World War One Centennial Commission, their Memorial Tree Program and Follow the Flag Programs are currently dedicated to honoring the contributions of veterans and others, both at home and abroad, made during the WWI era. Web site: https://www.savinghallowedground.org/

Founded in 1919 as the Army Ordnance Association, the American Defense Preparedness Association (ADPA) was a national organization dedicated to fostering progress in science, engineering, education, and management for the national defense. It was a nonpolitical and nonprofit-making organization dedicated to preparedness for the common defense and national security, by men who intended to preserve the lessons of World War One. Its principal missions were to increase weapons technology, improve defense management, and maintain a strong science-industry-defense team continually responsive to all needs of the development, production, logistics, and management phase of national preparedness.

On March 1, 1997, the National Security Industrial Association (NSIA) merged with the ADPA), and the merged organization was renamed National Defense Industrial Association to reflect the equal contributions of both associations to the merger and to preserve the identity and reputation of each. The merger of these two preeminent associations concerned with the defense of the United States reflects the continuing demand for greater efficiency within the defense industry and the government defense agencies.

The Flag and General Officers Network (TFGON) is a social and War Veteran's network for all Flag and General Officers of the U. S. Armed Forces [Pay Grade O-7 and above], active duty, Guard & Reserve, and retired.

The World War One Historical Association is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to studying all aspects of this global struggle. Explore our site and discover why historian Hans Kohn described the First World War as,

"the starting point of the first world wide revolution. It originated in Europe but encompassed all of mankind within less than half a century . . . everywhere changing thought and cultural trends, political ideas, and social structures."

Hans Kohn - Historian

The Washington Scholars Fellowship Program places individuals with an interest in public policy careers into premier internships in government agencies, media outlets and certain non-governmental organizations in Washington, DC. These positions offer a unique look at Washington and how the political process works from a hands-on point of view. The time spent in Washington D.C. provide interns with valuable knowledge, experience, and a broad network of professional contacts in the nation's capitol.

Washington Scholars interns are supporting the United States World War One Centennial Commission.

World War One, also called "The Great War," devastated much of Europe, killed some 10 million people, ended empires, gave birth to new nations, sparked conflicts from France to Persia and from Russia to the Pacific islands, created the conditions leading to World War Two a generation later, and helped make the United States the preeminent global power. Yet it settled nothing, and many of the conflicts from Europe to the Middle East and beyond still simmer to this day.

Now, a group of long-time public radio broadcasters are at work telling a host of stories from the war. Our public radio project will dig down into what it was like for those who fought in or lived through World War 1 – and how the war reshaped the world, including America.

Beginning in June 2014, we will tell the stories of The Great War in four radio documentaries and in shorter radio pieces, all of which will air on public radio stations nationwide and will be available in podcasts. We will present the vast tapestry of World War 1 and thereby help all of us understand what happened during that time and how that now-forgotten war helped create – for better or worse – the world we live in today.

The Cathedral is a spiritual resource for our nation: a great and beautiful edifice in the city of Washington, an indispensable ministry for people of all faiths and perspectives, and a sacred place for our country in times of celebration, crisis, and sorrow. Generous friends, members, and donors around the world support our mission.

The National Guard had a significant role in World War One. Guard units, organized into divisions by state, constituted 40% of the combat strength of the American Expeditionary Force. Of the first five U.S. Army divisions to enter combat in World War One, three National Guard divisions. The largest number of World War One Medals of Honor recipients served with the 30th Division, consisting of National Guardsmen from North and South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The League of World War One Aviation Historians is a non-profit educational organization devoted to serving its members' interests in studying and preserving information about early military aviation, publishing it's high quality quarterly journal Over the Front, maintaining its website (www.overthefront.com), and conducting biennial seminars.

The President Woodrow Wilson House gives a special glimpse into the private life of Woodrow Wilson while preserving his important legacy for future generations. After serving as the twenty-eighth President of the United States, where he led the nation through World War One, won the Nobel Peace Prize and created the League of Nations, Woodrow Wilson moved to S Street in 1921 to reflect on his career as educator, president and world statesman.

The MacArthur Memorial is a museum and research center dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the life of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. The Memorial also pays tribute to the millions of men and women who served with General MacArthur in World War One, World War Two, and the Korean War.

Comprehensive information on the First World War of 1914-1918: Trenches on the Web and Doughboy Center sites; St. Mihiel Trip-Wire newsletter, Over the Top magazine, Roads to the Great War daily blog, and more.

The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), headed by the Director of Naval History, is an Echelon II command headquartered on the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. Its mission is to collect, preserve, protect, present, and make relevant the artifacts, art, and documents that best capture the Navy's history and heritage. The NHHC manages the official history program of the United States Navy, fulfilling its mission to strengthen the Navy’s effectiveness by preserving, analyzing, and interpreting the service’s hard-earned experience. A professional staff of historians, archivists, librarians, museum specialists, and naval personnel carries out historical activities and supports the fleet.

Bugles Across America, NFP was founded in 2000 the service that Veterans have provided to their country by presenting a live rendition of Taps played by a live bugler at funerals. To this end, we are actively seeking capable volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families. Bugles Across America now has over 7500 bugler volunteers located in all 50 states and growing number overseas.

The Military Order of the World Wars was the expression of General Pershing’s desire to bring together his officer corps at the end of World War One. Among the thousands of military leaders since that time, General Pershing, General Eisenhower and General Macarthur remain on the perpetual rolls of the Order. The Order, among its several programs, promotes patriotic education, encourages the holding of commemorations and the establishment of memorials and holds, annually, numerous Massing of the Colors and Youth Leadership Conferences. MOWW enjoys affiliate relationships with several national organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts, the Air Force Association and National Sojourners.

As the museum of Washington County and the Birthplace of Texas, the Brenham Heritage Museum acts as the repository for the collected tangible and intangible cultural heritage for Brenham, Chappell Hill, Burton, Independence, Washington, Navasota, and more communities past and present. The Great War is a common thread throughout the fabric of our intermingled heritage. We will honor the stories and sacrifices of the citizens and soldiers of Texas whose wartime experiences built the foundations of our modern society.

The 16th Infantry Regiment was constituted and organized in May 1861 through an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Since that time it has fought in virtually all of America’s key campaigns and battles, thereby becoming one of the most decorated regiments in the US Army. During World War I, the 16th Infantry was among the first four regiments to arrive in France in 1917, the first to suffer casualties, and the last to come home in 1919. The Regiment’s Association was organized in 1989 and approved 22 August 1990 by the US Internal Revenue Service as an officially recognized Nonprofit Veterans Organization. The mission of the Association is to provide a venue for past and present members of the 16th Infantry Regiment to share in the history and well-earned camaraderie of the US Army’s greatest regiment. The key objectives of the Association are to: honor, communicate, and perpetuate the Regiment’s past history and present service; support the Soldiers and families of the Regiment’s active duty battalions through various financial and other means; and increase awareness of the Association and its activities and benefits among current and former members of the Regiment.

The Center for the Study of War and Memory at the University of South Alabama is an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on the study of war remembrance in all its forms. Throughout the World War I Centennial period, the Center will host a number of public symposia, including conferences on France and the Great War and American participation (both scheduled for 2017), as well a conference on the Armistice and its aftermath (scheduled for 2018). The Center also partners with the University of Alabama Press to produce the book series "War, Memory, and Culture," edited by Center Director Steven Trout.

Midway Village Museum was organized in the late 1960’s by the Swedish, Harlem and Rockford Historical Societies for the purpose of collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Rockford. Dedicated and officially opened in June 1974, the Museum complex houses the Museum’s large collection of 155,000 artifacts and historical documents. It also houses an education gallery, museum offices, meeting rooms and rental facilities. Midway Village Museum is the best institution for collection, preserving and interpreting the history of the Rockford region, is committed to educating and enriching our community by providing state-of-the-art exhibits, programs and events.

The Roll of Honor Foundation honors the military service of the men and women of America’s Armed Forces and educates the public about their personal stories and legacy. The Foundation provides an extensive online registry of U.S. service men and women, which allows current and former military members and their families to display their military experience, records of achievement and photos in a digital visual biography, Its goal is to eventually document the entire U.S. military service history – from Lexington and Concord to today’s deployments – through the individual histories of America’s military on the Roll of Honor website. The Foundation is partnering with the WWI Centennial Commission by creating a special WWI Roll of Honor, memorializing those who participated in the Great War and providing a central online location where families of World War I veterans can view and edit their relatives’ profiles, connect with other veteran families, and share their ancestors’ stories with the public.

AFS Intercultural Programs was organized as a volunteer ambulance corps in France during World War I by A. Piatt Andrew, a former Director of the United States Mint. In April 1915 Andrew negotiated with the French military to have units of American ambulance drivers evacuate the wounded from dressing stations near the front lines of battle, often in the line of fire. These units became known as the American Field Service (AFS), and the volunteers went on to transport more than one million casualties in both World Wars. In 1946, the AFS volunteers launched a secondary school exchange program intended to perpetuate international friendships in peacetime. Today, the organization now known as AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. Visit www.afs.org to learn more!

The Library of America, a nonprofit organization, publishes, preserves, and celebrates America’s greatest writing and offers resources for readers to explore this rich and diverse cultural heritage.

The American Hospital of Paris is a private, not-for-profit multidisciplinary hospital providing world-class medical and surgical care. It was created in 1906 by members of the American
community in Paris. Their wish was to create a Paris-based hospital, which would provide
American expatriates residing in France with medical care by American-trained doctors, in
their own language, regardless of their financial means.

In 1913, the American Hospital of Paris was chartered by the U.S. Congress, granting it federal status. In 1918, in recognition of services rendered to France during World War I, the French government granted the American Hospital of Paris the status of “an institution of public benefit”.

True to its values, The American Hospital of Paris focuses on three crucial requirements:

• quality
• patient safety
• personalized patient care

It offers global expertise, combining leading-edge technology, state-of-the-art treatment techniques and individualized care. The Hospital is committed to providing top professional services, while respecting the cultural diversity of patients. It was one of the first American hospitals to be accredited by The Joint Commission, in 1954. It is also certified by HAS, the French Quality Assessment Agency.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. The main purpose of the National Vice Chair World War One Centennial, as a Commemorative event, is to encourage and coordinate WWI commemorative events and activities throughout the NSDAR at the national, state and chapter level. The members volunteer to support activities and events that make a difference to the United States and align with our mission.

The New York State Archives Partnership Trust (APT) is a statewide not-for- profit organization and a public authority. Its mission is to help preserve and make accessible the over 200 million documents from 350 years of New York’s colonial and state governments, so that they may be used for the benefit of the public. The Trust addresses this mission by better informing the public about the importance of these records, by building a network of friends and advocates for the State Archives, and by developing engaging education and outreach programs. The NYS Archives Partnership Trust ensures New Yorkers remember the brave men and women and the overwhelming impact the World War One had on the society. The New York State Archives has a rich repository of sources from this era, and plans are already underway for outreach and educational programming.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the world’s largest annual fly-in event, with more than 500,000 attendance and welcomes more than 10,000 aircraft to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in late July. It is also the annual convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association, which is an international membership association dedication to recreational flight. EAA AirVenture hosts more than 1,000 forums, seminars and workshops on all facets of aviation. The event highlights famous historic moments and eras of aviation history, as well as new aviation innovations and technology. Aircraft that participate span the entire spectrum of the history of powered flight.

The Fort Worth Aviation Museum tells the story of the aviation heritage and accomplishments in North Texas since 1911. Its collection of 24 warbirds dates from 1943 to the present and features a US Navy Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet in the outdoor display. The museum's indoor displays include the B-36 Peacemaker and Forward Air Controllers Museums, a T-38 cockpit simulator and computer flight simulators.

Friends of Jenny (FOJ) is a non-profit educational group formed to bring to life the important and educational significance of the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplane, a hundred years after it was conceived and test flown. The Jenny 38262 was built from original Curtiss plans for a 1917 JN4D. Because of a more powerful engine, the aircraft is configured as a JN4H model. 38262 was delivered in Army Air Service markings and had the distinction of carrying the first U.S. Air Mail on May 15, 1918 on the Washington DC to New York route. She made her first flight October 2, 2013 when she joined the ranks of six other flying Jenny aircraft.

Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate® (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation offering four highly respected programmes of international education that develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

The Miami Military Museum and Memorial is a new museum, located in the historic former Military center here, now under restoration. The building was built in 1942 as local Navy Headquarters, and subsequently served as our Army Reserve Center, and Marine Corps Reserve Center over the next fifty years. It is a candidate for the National Register of Historic Places. Remembering WWI at high-profile public military events, such as our Army Band Concerts, promote and increases public awareness of WWI.

The National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) is comprised of the State Directors and in some cases, Commissioners of Veterans Affairs in each state of the U.S. as well as the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Although each state is unique, with its own traditions, programs and resources, the NASDVA is united by a common goal to make a difference in the lives of the veterans.

The Black United Fund of Illinois is a non-profit, tax-exempt federated organization and a social movement designed to improve the quality of life for African Americans through reliance on self-help at the local community level. The People programme International (PPI) is a voluntary organization of international partners who collaborate on selected projects of int'l significance to bring together diverse peoples. In conjunction with France’s four-year commemoration of WWI, the People Programme International is developing Passageway to Democracy, a trans-Atlantic exhibit in France and the United States, which explores the history of the African American experience in World War I and the postwar aftermath when African American soldiers returned to America in 1919.

Doughboy MIA is a site dedicated to those missing U.S. servicemen of WW1. It is a unique site in that it is the only one of its kind to deal exclusively with that subject. The U.S. Missing in Action of the Great War’s mission will move forward through research and networking of volunteers, organized and administered by Robert J. Laplander, project originator, administrator and coordinator. A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

The Pershing Rifles and Pacific Film Foundations bring to screen the personal story of General of the Armies John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) in World War I, and the motivating factors and events that shaped his exceptional life and career. The Pershing Project serves as an educational program. More inclusively, it includes a series of trans-media storytelling assets that will serve as a companion to the film, expand its audience, and further educate Americans on General Pershing and the events that shaped his life, most importantly - World War I.

Baritone John Brancy and pianist Peter Dugan have been collaborative musical partners and friends since they met as students at the Juilliard School in 2007. Together they created “A Silent Night: A WWI Centenary Tribute in Song” which premiered on their first professional tour together as recitalists this past season. It is a collection of classical art songs written by composers who lived through, fought, and died in the Great War. This program honors and illuminates the legacy of these composers, many of whom are often forgotten.

The USAHEC makes available contemporary and historical materials related to strategic leadership, the global application of Landpower, and U.S. Army Heritage to inform research, educate an international audience, and honor Soldiers, past and present.

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library strives to improve national civic health through the ideals, legislation, and international peace efforts of the 28th President of the United States. President Wilson’s efforts sought to reengage the American people in their role in government and the larger democratic society. The study of Wilson’s philosophy and ideals of international cooperation and world peace is particularly timely for government officials, scholars and citizens of all nations as we experience the wide-spread threats of terrorism and world unrest.

Wreaths Across America connects with the families and friends of fallen servicemen and women, to keep their memories alive all year long. Every wreath placed becomes a catalyst for bringing together different generations of Americans in one mission of remembrance and appreciation. The annual convoy from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery stops at many schools along the way, introducing young people to veterans.

The Order of the First World War is a hereditary society based on membership that brings together men and women who share World War I ancestry or lineage.

The objects of the Order of the First World War are patriotic, historical and educational, and shall include those intended or designed to perpetuate the memory of those men and women who rendered honorable service for their country; to promote fellowship among their descendants; to inspire them and the community-at-large with a more profound reverence for their heritage, deeds and memory; to encourage historical research; to acquire and preserve military records of their individual services in the Great War of 1914-1918. In addition the Order endeavors to preserve documents, relics and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the fallen soldiers by appropriate memorials and to celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of the First World War.

Over 300,000 Polish Americans served in the armed forces of the United States during World War I, with an additional 24,000 volunteering to the Polish Army in France. Fighting valiantly throughout the battlefields of Europe alongside our allies, Americans brought with them the Blessings of Liberty and Poland re-emerged as a free nation!