In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
This morning I spent some time with the 1944 edition of the Forest Republican. Not a week went by in 1944 that Forest Republican readers were not told about a local boy missing in action, or one that had fought and died for our country. The clippings below only offer us a glimpse into the lives of these soldiers and does not give justice to their time served, nor their sacrifices given. It does allow us to pause, remember and to share.
If you are interested in helping us preserve these stories as they deserved to be told, please contact Michelle at the Library.