Commemoration Partner Organizations - World War I Centennial

	Commemoration Partner Organizations
	The organizations listed below are partnering with the United States World War One Centennial Commission to support the missions given to the Commission by the Congress of the United States of America, acting independently and in concert with the Commission. Click on the organization's name for more information. (See disclaimer.) To add your organization to this page, send an email to the webmaster with the relevant information.

			The American Legion		The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans. The Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines. The American Legion appoints one Commissioner to the United States World War One Centennial Commission.

			Veterans of Foreign Wars		The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves. In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000. The VFW appoints one Commissioner to the United States World War One Centennial Commission

			The National World War One Museum at Liberty Memorial		The National World War One Museum at Liberty Memorial inspires thought, dialogue, and learning to make the experiences of the World War One era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. The Museum fulfills its mission by: Maintaining the Liberty Memorial as a beacon of freedom and a symbol of the courage, patriotism, sacrifice, and honor of all who served in World War One Interpreting the history of World War One to encourage public involvement and informed decision-making Providing exhibitions and educational programs that engage diverse audiences Collecting and preserving historical materials with the highest professional standards The National World War One Museum appoints one Commissioner to the United States World War One Centennial Commission.

			The United States Navy Memorial		For America's sea services, the United States Navy Memorial is the triumph of a centuries-old dream. In the early days of America's national independence, architect Pierre L'Enfant envisioned a memorial in the Nation’s Capital to "to celebrate the first rise of the Navy and consecrate its progress and achievements." The non-profit United States Navy Memorial organization was founded in 1977. In 1980, Congress approved construction of a Navy Memorial on public land in the District of Columbia. Construction began in December 1985, and the Memorial was dedicated two years later on October 13, 1987, the 212th birthday of the United States Navy.

			The United States Army Center for Military History		The Center Of Military History (CMH) is responsible for the appropriate use of history throughout the United States Army. Traditionally, this mission has meant recording the official history of the Army in both peace and war, while advising the Army Staff on historical matters. In terms of this tradition, the Center traces its lineage back to those historians under the Secretary of War who compiled the Official Records of the Rebellion, a monumental history of the Civil War begun in 1874, and to a similar work on World War One prepared by the Historical Section of the Army War College. Today the Center is one of the major publishers of military history in the world. CMH provides historical support to the Army Secretariat and Staff, contributing essential background information for decision making, staff actions, command information programs, and public statements by Army officials. The Center provides all levels of the Army, as well as other services, government agencies, and the public, with a growing awareness of history that goes well beyond publications alone.

			American Battle Monuments Commission		The American Battle Monuments Commission, established by the Congress in 1923, is the agency of the executive branch of the Federal government that serves as the guardian of America's overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials that honor the service, achievements and sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. ABMC's commemorative mission includes: Designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent American cemeteries in foreign countries. Establishing and maintaining U.S. military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917, and within the United States when directed by public law. Controlling the design and construction of permanent U.S. military monuments and markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encouraging their maintenance.

			The World War One Memorial Inventory		The World War One Memorial Inventory project is a nationwide inventory effort that seeks to identify, document, and preliminarily assesses the condition of the country's World War One memorials and monuments. The effort is intended to raise public awareness of the presence, and in many cases, sadly, the plight of these historic monuments and memorials, as a necessary first step to ensuring their conservation and preservation.

			Saving Hallowed Ground		Saving Hallowed Ground is a worldwide organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of monuments and markers, commemorating veterans and patriots where ever they may be found. Saving Hallowed Ground accomplishes this through two steps. Performing conservation and preservation services to the monuments themselves. Engaging school students and communities in researching and learning about the history of their monuments and about the stories behind the names inscribed on these Living History Memorials.

			National Defense Industrial Association		Founded in 1919 as the Army Ordnance Association, the American Defense Preparedness Association (ADPA) was a national organization dedicated to fostering progress in science, engineering, education, and management for the national defense. It was a nonpolitical and nonprofit-making organization dedicated to preparedness for the common defense and national security, by men who intended to preserve the lessons of World War One. Its principal missions were to increase weapons technology, improve defense management, and maintain a strong science-industry-defense team continually responsive to all needs of the development, production, logistics, and management phase of national preparedness. On March 1, 1997, the National Security Industrial Association (NSIA) merged with the ADPA), and the merged organization was renamed National Defense Industrial Association to reflect the equal contributions of both associations to the merger and to preserve the identity and reputation of each. The merger of these two preeminent associations concerned with the defense of the United States reflects the continuing demand for greater efficiency within the defense industry and the government defense agencies.

			The Flag and General Officers Network		The Flag and General Officers Network (TFGON) is a social and War Veteran's network for all Flag and General Officers of the U. S. Armed Forces [Pay Grade O-7 and above], active duty, Guard & Reserve, and retired.

			World War One Historical Association		The World War One Historical Association is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to studying all aspects of this global struggle. Explore our site and discover why historian Hans Kohn described the First World War as "the starting point of the first world wide revolution. It originated in Europe but encompassed all of mankind within less than half a century . . . everywhere changing thought and cultural trends, political ideas, and social structures."

			Washington Scholars		The Washington Scholars Fellowship Program places individuals with an interest in public policy careers into premier internships in government agencies, media outlets and certain non-governmental organizations in Washington, DC. These positions offer a unique look at Washington and how the political process works from a hands-on point of view. The time spent in Washington D.C. provide interns with valuable knowledge, experience, and a broad network of professional contacts in the nation's capitol. Washington Scholars interns are supporting the United States World War One Centennial Commission.

			The Great War Project		World War One, also called "The Great War," devastated much of Europe, killed some 10 million people, ended empires, gave birth to new nations, sparked conflicts from France to Persia and from Russia to the Pacific islands, created the conditions leading to World War Two a generation later, and helped make the United States the preeminent global power. Yet it settled nothing, and many of the conflicts from Europe to the Middle East and beyond still simmer to this day. Now, a group of long-time public radio broadcasters are at work telling a host of stories from the war. Our public radio project will dig down into what it was like for those who fought in or lived through World War 1 – and how the war reshaped the world, including America. Beginning in June 2014, we will tell the stories of The Great War in four radio documentaries and in shorter radio pieces, all of which will air on public radio stations nationwide and will be available in podcasts. We will present the vast tapestry of World War 1 and thereby help all of us understand what happened during that time and how that now-forgotten war helped create – for better or worse – the world we live in today.

			Washington National Cathedral		The Cathedral is a spiritual resource for our nation: a great and beautiful edifice in the city of Washington, an indispensable ministry for people of all faiths and perspectives, and a sacred place for our country in times of celebration, crisis, and sorrow. Generous friends, members, and donors around the world support our mission.

			National Guard Bureau		The National Guard had a significant role in World War One. Guard units, organized into divisions by state, constituted 40% of the combat strength of the American Expeditionary Force. Of the first five U.S. Army divisions to enter combat in World War One, three National Guard divisions. The largest number of World War One Medals of Honor recipients served with the 30th Division, consisting of National Guardsmen from North and South Carolina, and Tennessee.

			League of World War One Aviation Historians		The League of World War One Aviation Historians is a non-profit educational organization devoted to serving its members' interests in studying and preserving information about early military aviation, publishing it's high quality quarterly journal Over the Front, maintaining its website (www.overthefront.com), and conducting biennial seminars.