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Gov. Bevin, mayors of Kentucky cities, designate April 6, 2017 as World War I Centennial Day


The mayors of Radcliff, Henderson, Louisville, Shelbyville, Middletown, Winchester, Tompkinsville and Elizabethtown have joined Governor Matt Bevin in designating April 6, 2017 as World War I Centennial Day in communities across Kentucky.

The proclamation from Mayor Steve Austin of the City of Henderson (click to enlarge)

One hundred years ago, the United States of America declared war against Germany’s Imperial Army and entered the battles of World War I.

Radcliff mayor Michael J. Weaver noted that the City of Radcliff is named for Major W.H. Radcliffe, who in 1918 began construction of Camp Knox, which thrives today as Fort Knox in Radcliff.

In Henderson, a community group formed to commemorate World War I initiated the proclamation.

The “Henderson and the Great War” group is hosting a program titled “America’s Entry Into the Great War” today,  presented by a college history professor and they plan other events.

The proclamations officially begin more than two years of events to commemorate the Great War and the thousands of Kentuckians who sacrificed to help bring the terrible carnage to an end.

“One hundred years have passed since the United States entered the war that was expected to end all wars. While that has sadly not been the case, the liberty of billions hung in the balance” said Gov. Bevin. “The Kentuckians who bravely fought to protect and defend the fate of the free world during World War I may no longer be with us, but the legacy they left behind cannot be forgotten. We are thankful for their sacrifice, and proudly honor their memory.”

In his proclamation, Gov. Bevin noted that Kentucky was chosen as the site of one of only 16 World War I cantonments, Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville, where more than 150,000 men were trained for service.

Two men with Kentucky backgrounds were awarded the Medal of Honor for valorous service in World War I: Sergeant Willie Sandlin of Buckhorn, Kentucky, and Captain Samuel Woodfill.

Proclamations from Mayor Edna B. Berger of Elizabethtown and Mayor J. Bryan Chapman of Middletown (click to enlarge).

When General John J. Pershing was asked to name the most gallant among all of America’s heroes of the Great War, Captain Woodfill, a resident of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, was among his selections.

At least six men from Kentucky served in the legendary U.S. Army unit nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters and were awarded the Croix de Guerre by the Government of France for their valorous service in World War I: Private Bert Beckham, Private Robert Wooten, Private Bradley Logan and Private Ionia Harris, all of Shelbyville, Private Leonard Todd of Finchville, and Private John Ray Carter of Anderson County.

Kentucky established a 26-member committee to assist with the Centennial Commemoration from April 5, 2017 through summer 2019. The members include representatives of historical societies, education, the arts and the military.

Many non-profit museums, organizations and other groups will be holding events throughout the next two years to commemorate the Centennial.

More information is available at http://veterans.ky.gov/otherprograms/Pages/World-War-I-Commemoration.aspx 

and  http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/kentucky-home-page.html

Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

 


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