Daily playing of Taps inaugurated at the National World War I Memorial in DC
The Doughboy Foundation, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission’s longtime partner, will continue its mission to “keep faith with the American Doughboy” by honoring those who served; commemorating the events of a century ago; and inspiring visitors to learn, remember, and reflect on how World War I changed our country and the world through commemorative and educational programs. To that end, one of the Foundation’s signature initiatives will be to honor the Doughboys with a daily playing of “Taps” at the National World War I Memorial every evening at 5:00 p.m. EDT, rain or shine in a pilot program running through Veterans Day. Taps will be sounded daily by buglers from the Taps for Veterans organization at the foot of the flagpole at the northwest corner of the Memorial. Click here to learn how you can support Daily Taps at the Memorial and other Doughboy Foundation programs.
Hamby receives Distinguished Public Service Award from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Terry W. Hamby, the Chair of the United States World War I Centennial Commission, received the Distinguished Public Service Award from General Mark A. Milley, USA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a ceremony May 28, 2021 at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC. The award was presented in recognition of Hamby’s “extraordinary contributions as the Chairman of the World War I Centennial Commission.” In particular, the award highlighted Hamby’s leadership of the Commission “to completion of its mission to build the United States National War Memorial in Washington, DC.” Click here to ready more about the award ceremony for the Commission’s Chair for a job well done.
A Boy Scout troop in Richmond, Virginia, over a century old itself, lent its hands recently to acknowledge those whose help enabled the April 16, 2021 opening of the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC honoring the 4.7 million Americans who served their nation in uniform 100 years ago. As part of the activities after the recent Father & Son Hike, Troop 400 folded flags that were flown over the Memorial so that they could be placed into presentation cases for the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission World War I Memorial Donor and Patron Recognition Program. Click here to read more about the Scout troop ‘s timely assistance to help thank those who helped build the Memorial.
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Brancy and Dugan Release The Journey Home: Live from the Kennedy Center
On May 28, 2021 Vocal Arts DC in collaboration with Avie Records released The Journey Home: Live from the Kennedy Center. Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, the concert, which sold-out at the time, explores timeless themes of longing, loss, love, and the search for peace in the wake of catastrophe. Accompanying the album, the duo has released a film of the performance, which includes interviews with historians and military personnel, and explores the long overdue process of creating a national memorial to World War I in Washington, DC, including interviews with the United States WWI Centennial Commissioners. Click here to read more about these new releases, and find out where to listen and watch.
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A piece of World War I history returned to Wichita Friday, May 28: an airplane that looks exactly like the plane Lt. Erwin Bleckley flew during his last mission during the First World War. The plan with the plane, once it’s restored, is to have it displayed at Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport, available for thousands to see and to learn a little about the plane’s history and why it’s important to Wichita. Lt. Erwin Bleckley died at the age of 23 on Oct. 6, 1918 on a mission to drop supplies from the sky. He later received the Medal of Honor for his bravery. Click here to read more about this aircraft, and why it is “a very big deal for the city of Wichita to bring this airplane home.”
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On the occasion of National Nurses Day on May 6, Ed Saunders wrote a thoughtful article about two Montana nurses who served their nation during World War I. Eula Bernice Butzerin (left) served in a Red Cross hospital in Kansas City, MO. Susie Lee Welborn joined the Army Nurse Corps, and served at Base Hospital 53 at Langres, France. But the two nurses shared more than their state and profession: both had to perform a sad duty after the fighting stopped. Click here to read more about the family tragedies that each Montana nurse suffered Over There in World War I.
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Roberto Duran, a Captain in the United States Air Force, is currently flying for Air Force Special Operations Command. After Duran graduated from college and before he was commissioned, he auditioned for and was cast in Pershing’s Paths of Glory, a documentary film which features Pershing Rifles members, a Pershing Angel, and Blackjacks who travel and mark incidents in the life of General John J. Pershing, the great World War I Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces. Duran, a Pershing Rifleman from Texas and college graduate from Louisiana State University, was a serious, stabilizing force among the diverse group of high energy, military cadets still in secondary school. Click here to learn more about Duran, what he learned during the making of the movie, and how General Pershing inspired to to a career in the military.
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A man is only missing if he is forgotten.
Our Doughboy MIA this month is
Born 15MAR1886, in Hallsboro, North Carolina, Wesley Jackson Creech was the fourth of six children that Henry and Martha Creech would rear. He signed his 05JUN1917 draft card at Bolton, North Carolina, where he listed himself as a lumber inspector and two months later married Miss Francis Williamson, age 19.
Creech received his draft call shortly thereafter, reporting for duty on 01OCT1917 and was sent to Camp Jackson for induction. From there he went to Camp Sevier for infantry training and was placed in Company C, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th ‘Old Hickory’ Division. Departing Boston, Massachusetts for overseas service on 12May1918 aboard the transport Bohemian, Creech’s division was brigaded with the British in the Somme sector that summer.
Records show Wesley Creech as being killed in action on 31AUG1918 and buried by a British unit, however later identification of his grave by American Graves Registration personnel proved fruitless. As such, he is memorialized on the Tablets to the Missing at the Flanders Field American Cemetery at Waregem, Belgium.
Want to help solve Pvt. Creech’s case? Consider making a donation to Doughboy MIA at www.usww1cc.org/mia. It takes only a moment and your tax deductible contribution can be as large as you want or as small as $10.00 on our ‘Ten for Them’ program. Your contribution helps us make a full accounting of all 4,425 US MIA’s from WW1 and keeps these lost men from being forgotten. Make your tax deductible donation now, with our thanks. Remember:
A man is only missing if he is forgotten.
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