Highlights Archives
Remembering Veterans of World War I
As Veterans Day approaches, we honor all Wisconsin's sons and daughters who have served or currently serve in our nation's armed forces.
When "the war to end all wars" ceased on Nov. 11, 1918, cries of joy went up around the globe. Eight years later, "Armistice Day" was declared a federal holiday in the U.S. to mark the date when the world's worst conflict ended. After World War II and the Korean War, the day's purpose was expanded in tribute to all men and women who have served in America's military, and its name was changed to "Veterans Day" in 1954.
More than 100,000 Wisconsin soldiers fought in World War I, and women mobilized in large numbers on the home front. After the war, celebrations such as this 1920 event in Milwaukee were often organized by American Legion posts. Our state responded to the nation's call again in 1941, and more than 300,000 Wisconsin citizens served in the military during World War II. Read some of these veterans' memoirs at Turning Points in Wisconsin History, and find more then 30 recollections by Wisconsin women in our book Women Remember the War, 1941-1945. The Korean War was once called America's "forgotten war," but the 132,000 Wisconsin citizens who served there never forgot it. The Vietnam War stands out in our memories not just because it was more recent but because our citizens were bitterly divided over it. More than 170 letters and diary entries written by Wisconsin men and women who served there are collected in our book Voices from Vietnam; photographs from the war can be found online at Wisconsin Historical Images; and excerpts from textual sources can be read at Turning Points in Wisconsin History.
For those who can get to Madison, the Society's library and archives collections contain thousands of books and unpublished records on Wisconsin's participation in the nation's wars, from the French and Indian War (when Wisconsin fur traders and Indians fought against the British) through today's actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. The Society has long collected the newsletters and magazines produced by American troops, which it shares with other institutions on microfilm and digitally, and currently publishes a dozen books about Wisconsin in wartime that are available online and in bookshops. Those who only want to explore online should be sure to view the online exhibits and listen to audio about Wisconsin's role in our nation's wars at an excellent Web site maintained by our colleagues at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. They have also created a database with descriptions and photographs of memorials erected to Wisconsin units that served in our nation's wars.
:: Posted November 7, 2005
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