Comments on: World War I Commemorative Coins Proposed for Centennial

By: Dennis Sullivan

Dennis Sullivan — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 00:21:40 +0000

I can look at what all here are saying. The problem is that whenever the powers to be in our country want us in a war they start coming up with all sorts of lies. One can look at many reasons for USA involvement in WW1. Germany was actually winning and England got Balfour among others to get rich influential men to push President Woodrow Wilson into this European war. There are many business tycoons including Bernard Baruch who influenced Wilson. Baruch of New York City had a big role. In turn Baruch got the Balfour agreement. There are a number of other reasons that we got involved in a foreign war (we don’t listen to Presidents like George Washington ) but there are a lot of lies in getting a country involved in war. Some of the sleaziest lies started in 2002 in getting the US to invade Iraq and the two big political parties have equal blame.
This willful misrepresentation of reasons is easily sold to the US people, most of whom do no research about why the USA starts or gets involved in wars. This does not detract from the men and women who put their hearts and souls into serving in the military, but no man likes to be swindled as many veterans have found out.
The coin is fine with me if it means Americans (some 300,000,000 plus) will turn away from their bread and circuses TV shows, their romance and mystery novels, etc., and actually make an effort to see whether sending its sons and daughters off somewhere is really for the good of the USA.
And may political correctness not play a part in the design of this coin. You all know the commemorative coins that have failed due to the imposition of the will of some on how a coin is designed, witness a female on the Boy Scout coin as well as others.
Wars hurt families -the hurt usually never goes away. War is among the biggest of evils.I can only recommend this coin if it means Americans might think for a change.
I do not harbor prejudices- I am a bit burnt out- I had some time in military: USMC 68-71; US Army 85-93; US Army Reserves 1986-2011. I have had many deployments. These young men and women who volunteer or who are drafted are too important to their families and our strength as a moral nation to have their lives thrown away for the sick perverse reasons that some special interest groups (including certain countries) have in getting us involved in wars we should never be in.

By: jim

jim — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 03:53:14 +0000

We’re big on 100th anniversaries.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 11:44:41 +0000

Very late to leave a post, but as long as it’s open…the Peace dollar stood for the end of the conflict (not that there was peace in Europe) so in a sense we’ve already had such a commemorative. Do we need another one?

By: James

James — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 22:10:23 +0000

Victor, do not assume the younger folk do not care nor know about events of the past, such as WWI. There are some of us, still even in highschool, who are dedicated to learning and understanding history. WWI (1914-1918) between the Allied (Britain, France, Russia, USA & others) and Central (Austro-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Germany & others) powers, caused by militarism, secret alliances, imperialism and nationalist attitudes and sparked by the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was a major internationally reaching conflict and key element of the 20th century that we should work to never forget.

By: Nelle Fairchild Rote

Nelle Fairchild Rote — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 18:36:16 +0000

In fourth grade, when I said I had an aunt who was in “the” war the boys said, “She doesn’t count, she’s a girl.”
In 70s I finally got satisfaction by publishing my own book of 400 pages and 400 photos including my aunt, Nurse Helen Fairchild’s letters, and showing what it was like where she served in Belgium at casualty clearing station No. 4, near Ypres at Third Passchendaele. If you read that history, you know vividly what WWI was like. Helen was a US Army Reserve nurse with the AEF, a first responder in May 1917 with Pennsylvania Base Hospital No. 10. She died “from her work at the Front” so wrote her chaplain Jeffreys in the History of Philadelphia in the Great War. The good citizens of Vleteren, Belgium, honor her memory by keeping in the summer, a living pot of flowers along the little road by Dozinghem Military Cemetery, a British Cemetery. Luc Inion, who grew up on his grandfather’s farm at Dozinghem is the teacher who is keeping Helen’s memory alive there.
Here at home we got the arched bridge over the North Branch of the Susquehanna River the Nurse Helen Fairchild Memorial Bridge. Who knew?
Who cares?
Nelle

By: Waldena

Waldena — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 21:52:08 +0000

Victor – I completely agree. Frank Woodruff Buckles struggled for years until he was 110 years old in an attempt to have WWI recognized, and our politicians let him die without completing any legislation to help him. Shame on them.

By: S. Buckles

S. Buckles — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 02:48:47 +0000

Thank you Mr. Gillis for your kind remarks regarding Frank Buckles. He was, indeed, a remarkable man. I have never met his equal. Frank was a stalwart champion in preserving the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C., so that the Doughboys would always be remembered for their services. Alas, it was a battle he did not live long enough to win!

By: Rod Gillis

Rod Gillis — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 20:06:26 +0000

S. Buckles,
Your relative was the inspiration for the coin. I followed his story closely and wept when he passed away. He was a true patriot. I would love nothing better then to make sure that you and your family receive the very first coin minted. I am most humbled and honored by your support.

By: S. Buckles

S. Buckles — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 17:17:43 +0000

I would suggest that the point behind a commemorative regarding WWI, is to honor the men and women who served in that war. It does not necessarily mean that WWI is being celebrated, only that those who served are not forgotten for their sacrifices! Many could claim equal disgust at honoring Civil War veterans, especially those who denigrate the Southern soldiers for their stand.
Frank Buckles, a relative of mine, was concerned that the services of his generation, would be forever forgotten. They served then, as Americans do today, because their country called them to serve. Please respect their patriotism to do so!

By: sean7k

sean7k — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 16:30:55 +0000

Phelps,
My obnoxious posts, as you call them, are an attempt to illuminate and educate. We can do nothing for the people that were conned into fighting Europe’s folly. However, by glorifying their sacrifice, we encourage the youth of today to sacrifice their lives- for NOTHING.
If you’re concerned about insulting them, why not have a commemorative of Gen MacArthur and Gen Patton running them to ground during their march on Pennslyvania avenue to address their starvation and homelessness.
Ignorance of history is what allows its’ repetition.