But year after year their numbers get fewerSome day no one will march there at all.
"The Band Played Waltzing Matilda," 1972, Eric Bogle
One more Fourth of July weekend post...
On the corner of Ballard Road and River Road in Des Plaines, Illinois is Belleau Wood. It's named in honor of the 1918 World War I Battle of Belleau Wood, the 90th anniversary of the battle passed last month.
Once the United States declared war on the German Empire in 1917, the stategy of the Germans was to defeat the Western Allies before the full force of the American forces could make a difference. In March, 1918, after three years of stalemate, the Germans broke the British lines of defense. But the Brits re-grouped, and the Germans then decided to strike against the French. The Germans met the French, and some untested United States Marines at Belleau Wood. Captain Lloyd Williams of the 5th Marine Regiment encountered some retreating French soldiers, who advised Williams to follow suit. But the marine captain replied, "Retreat, hell! We just got here!" The Allies won the battle, and the last German offensive of the war was checked.
Five months later the Germans agreed to an armistice.
We don't generally hear much about the Great War, but places like Des Plaines' Belleau Wood help keep the memory alive.
The 90th anniversary of the end of World War I will occur on Veterans' Day.
On the American side, just one veteran survives from that conflict survives, 107 year-old Fred Buckles, who served as an army ambulance driver in France. According to this Wikipedia article, just 11 Great War veterans--including one woman--survive, all of them served for the Allied Powers.
Related post:
Memorial Day, Morton Grove, Illinois
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World War I 
patriotism 
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France 
Des Plaines 
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Belleau Wood
You're right, John, we don't hear a lot about The Great War. Thanks for keeping the memory alive.
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