I would like to say that this post is about the classic 1925 silent film about World War I.  As the old joke goes, I would really like to say it.  But it’s not.

Let me just say before I possibly dive in to where angels fear to tread, I am trying to avoid politically charged comments.  If the reader feels I’ve failed to do this, the blame falls squarely on my shoulders and no one else.

I think most readers here know that the President has made a request for a military parade to be held in Washington.  The news broke this weekend that a Department of Defense memo reveals that planning for the parade is proceeding and a date has been set.  It is November 11, 2018.

That, of course, is Armistice Day +100.

Details reveal that the parade is to honor all veterans from the Revolution to the present day.  This is all well and good.  There is no mention at this point, as far as I can see, that there will be any special recognition of the World War I centennial.

The National World War I Centennial Commission is already planning events in Washington that day to mark the end of fighting in World War I.  See the previous post:  https://www.kansasww1.org/time-to-consider-the-armistice-centennial/

It is a little early yet for a response from the Commission , but one suspects–one hopes–that there will be calls in Washington to see how the parade can fit into other Centennial observances.  One will also hope that consideration will be made for recognition of the end of World War I in the parade.  It is after all, the original reason why November 11 stands out in this nation’s history.

Thank you.  Please feel free to comment.

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.