World War I ended 103 years ago today. Here is how the Star-Telegram reported the declaration of peace on November 11, 1918:
The front page.
A message from President Wilson.
Within minutes after Associated Press announced the armistice, the Star-Telegram had an extra edition on the streets at 2 a.m. People celebrated the news with gunfire, hurrahs, car horns, and a trombone playing “Taps.” Fire Chief William Bideker rang the fire bell at the central fire station; locomotive whistles blew at the Texas & Pacific roundhouse; the chimes of First Presbyterian Church rang out the Doxology.
The kaiser was kaput, at least symbolically.
Fender-benders, bells, and bullets.
The federal fuel administration lifted the ban on night lights for the peace celebration.
“America and Peace: “The world war is ended. . . . we have stood the test of war.”
Readers no doubt hoped they had read their last “Roll of Honor” of those killed, wounded, and missing in action.
On November 11, 1921 an unidentified American soldier whose remains had been brought back from France was interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
The changing of the guard at the tomb (photo from Wikipedia).
Around town, some memorials to America’s veterans:
Veterans Memorial Park sits on the former location of the headquarters of the 36th Infantry Division of the Army’s Camp Bowie.
At Mount Olivet.
Vietnam War Memorial at Botanic Garden. The columns came from the Quality Hill mansion of C. A. O’Keefe, rescued from demolition by C. L. and Lucille Richhart.
In Dutch Branch Park, Benbrook.
Highway 26 in Colleyville is designated a Blue Star Memorial Highway to honor veterans.
On the courthouse lawn.
Nine to eleven million military personnel and six to thirteen million civilians are estimated to have been killed in World War I.
