In February 2015, Governor Sam Brownback received a letter from the Chairman of the United States World War One Centennial Commission (WWICC) requesting that each state form a committee to coordinate commemorative projects and activities throughout the centennial commemoration period, 2015-2019.
“World War One (WWI) began 100 years ago, on July 28, 1914. More than four million American families saw their sons and daughters serve in uniform, and more Americans gave their lives during WWI than during the Korea and Vietnam wars combined… As our nation observes the centennial of the First World War, the WWICC seeks your leadership and participation to recognize and remember those who served our country in its time of need.” Click here to read the full letter.
Original Letter from WWICC Chairman Robert J. Dalessandro, COL, USA (Ret.)
To honor this request, a Kansas World War I Centennial Commemoration Committee was formed in August 2015, chaired by Kansas Museum of History Director, Mary Madden.
Members include representatives from educational institutions and organizations throughout the state with a shared commitment to recognizing and supporting the WW1 commemorative community in the state of Kansas over the next four years.
KSWW1 Centennial Commoration Committee Members
Kansas State Historical Society
Mary Madden, Kansas Museum of History Director (Committee Chair)
Blair Tarr, Kansas Museum of History Curator
Matt Veatch, Archives Director
Patrick Zollner, Cultural Resources Director
Kansas Humanities Council
Murl Riedel, Director of Grants
US WWI Centennial Commission (WWICC)
James Whitfield, Commissioner representing the American Legion
James Patton, Commissioner
National World War I Museum & Memorial
Dennis Cross, Volunteer
Pittsburg State University
John Daley, Professor of History, Philosophy and Social Studies
Bethany College
Tom Jorsch, Assistant Professor of History
University of Kansas Medical Center
George Thompson, Adjunct Associate Professor, Historian
University of Kansas
Lorie Vanchena, Academic Director for European Studies and Associate Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures
Jennifer Duhamel, European Studies Program Outreach Coordinator
Adrienne Landry, Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (CREES) Outreach Coordinator
Adrienne Landry
Adrienne Landry Dunavin is a member of the Kansas WWI Centennial Commemoration Committee and is the primary administrator of KansasWW1.org. She worked at the KU Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies as their Outreach Coordinator from 2010-2016. During that time she served on the KU WWI Centennial Commemoration Working Group. She continues to volunteer as a representative for CREES and KU WWI on this blog.
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