The city of Lawrence is taking note that at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 2018 (local time), bells will peal across the country to mark the 100th anniversary of the armistice ending the fighting in the Great War.

At that same time in Lawrence during their Veterans Day Parade, a moment of silence will be offered to commemorate the anniversary and to honor the memory of those who served in World War I.  It should be noted that the observance is not just for the city of Lawrence, but all of Douglas County.

Spectators should be in place by 10:45 a.m. in order to mark the moment of silence at 11:00 a.m.  The parade will start at 7th and Massachusetts Streets and continue to 11th and Massachusetts.

We’ll be happy to receive additional information about the parade.  We will also be happy to receive and report on additional observances in Kansas to mark the anniversary of the armistice.

Blair Tarr is the Museum Curator of the Kansas State Historical Society. He oversees the three-dimensional collections of the Society, but has special interests in the Civil War, Wichita-made Valentine diners, and Leavenworth's Abernathy Furniture. In the last few years he has also done a lot of cramming on The Great War. He is a past president of the Kansas Museums Association and the Civil War Round Tables of both Kansas City and Eastern Kansas. He is currently a board member of the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City.