World War I Centennial events scheduled statewide

The centennial of the end of WWI is fast approaching. There will be major events across the state beginning the end of September and seminars will be sponsored in the major cities across the state. Dates and times are mentioned on our website at ww1cc.org/nd. WWI North Dakota Centennial Chairman Darrell Dorgan says the group would like you to participate in the events.

“We originated the idea of having bells toll and sirens ring on the morning of Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. across the nation and state,” Dorgan said. “The National WWI Centennial Commission is now asking all states to participate. We are asking communities across North Dakota to be involved in this tribute by ringing bells and sounding sirens the morning of Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Details on the event will be released shortly.”

North Dakota WWI committee members have also formally requested that County Veterans Services Officers work with local Veteran’s organizations to read the names of the more than 1,300 North Dakotan’s who died in WWI, most in the just last six months of the war in the trenches of France. The committee has requested the names of those who died be read aloud from the steps of the county courthouse or a place of public gathering, in their county of residence, when the bells are done tolling.

Groups that have events planned to commemorate WWI are also asked to contact the WWI Centennial web site so the events can be listed. The web site manager is Mike Gayette at [email protected]. Our website is ww1cc.org/nd.

Also on the website, a list of those who died during the ‘War-to-End-All-Wars’ will be posted in Mid-September and those who perished in the fight for freedom will be listed by county and city. The updated list has been compiled by noted historian Barbara Handy-Marcello.

The North Dakota WWI Centennial Committee has also received great support from the North Dakota Humanities Council for a series of community events leading up to the armistice ending WWI, 100-years ago on Nov. 11. We will sponsor lectures and community discussions in six cities during October and the first week of November. Susan Wefald or Darrell Dorgan will moderate each of the events. The programs will begin with a 10-minute video overview of WWI, followed by a 20- to 30-minute talk about how the war began, how the U.S. became involved, the effort on the home-front, North Dakota's participation and the impact on the world today. That will be followed by 30 minutes of audience Q & A.

The schedule provides for events in Williston on Oct. 16 and Minot Oct. 17, presented by Minot State University Professor Joseph Jastrzembski. Both programs will be held in the public libraries and begin at 7:30 p.m.

University of North Dakota Professor Al Berger will lead the Grand Forks lecture at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Grand Forks Public Library.

North Dakota State University Professor Tom Isern will headline the Oct. 24 event at 7:30 p.m. at the Fargo Public Library.

Professor Carol Barrett will conduct the Jamestown gathering at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Old Stutsman County Courthouse in Jamestown.

Historian Barbara Handy- Marcello will lead the Bismarck event at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the North Dakota Heritage Center.

Prairie Public Radio has agreed to provide several hours of airtime on Nov. 11 for a conversation about WWI. Many stories written by our committee members about the war will likely be used. They are also considering some programming on television leading up to and on Nov. 11.

Dorgan says, “We look forward to working with groups to help publicize the events of 100 years ago to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by millions across the world and thousands of others from North Dakota.”