Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. It was first observed 99 years ago as “Armistice Day” to remember those who served in the “Great War” which is now called World War I (WWI). 2018 is the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice which ended the Great War; combat ceased on Nov. 11, 1918, at “the eleventh hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.” In 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars and is now known as Veterans Day.

Some World War I U.S. troop statistics:

• 4.7 million men and women served

• 2 million shipped to France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

• 200 days of brutal combat; 16 major battles

• 50,300 Killed in Action; 63,000 died of disease (38,815 in camps stateside); 4,503 died in accidents; over 1,000 suicides

• 199,000 Wounded in Action (41,000 “Shell Shocked” — PTSD of its day)

• A Veterans Administration study in 1930 found that since the Great War’s end there were 460,000 deaths related to the war.

The Farmville American Legion Post is “Jack Garland Post 32” named for John “Jack” Garland, a 19 year-old Farmville man serving with the U.S. Army’s Company G, 116th Regiment, 29th Division who was killed in action during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on Oct. 8, 1918. This date included some of the most intense combat and acts of bravery in American military history. Of the 121 Medals of Honor awarded in WWI, 22 were awarded for actions that occurred on Oct. 8, of 1918. This was the day that the famous Sgt. Alvin York earned the medal for his actions and also the day that Virginia’s own Sgt. Earle Davis Gregory’s actions earned him the Medal of Honor.

Jack Garland served honorably as did hundreds of others, nearly 700 men from Prince Edward, both African-American and white served during WWI. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice will be honored this Veterans Day holiday on Nov. 12 when the Farmville American Legion and Prince Edward County dedicate a memorial to them on the courthouse lawn. Post 32 Commander Bill Bailey and Legionnaire Dan Pempel led the effort to have this memorial placed on the centennial of the armistice.

Let us never forget our World War I Veterans as we honor all American Military Veterans on this Veterans Day. I urge everyone to participate in the Bells of Peace at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 by ringing a bell 21 times. There is even a phone app for this, please visit the World War I Centennial Commission website at www.worldwar1centennial. org/ for information.

ED DUNN is a U.S. Navy Veteran, Cold War and Desert Storm Era Member, “Jack Garland” American Legion Post #32 he can be reached at edbdunn@gmail.com.