One hundred years ago Sunday, Nov. 11, the armistice was signed ending the four-year conflict between many nations during World War I. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, over four million U.S. soldiers fought in World War I and 116,000 of those soldiers lost their lives.
On Sunday, the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library celebrated the end of the "war to end all wars" by holding a commemoration presentation. Veterans and community members of the Butler County area were in attendance. Speakers from the surrounding area gave presentations pertaining to veteran's benefits, Missouri mules being used in the war, and effects of the war on women in the United States.
After the presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance, Director of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Sue Szostak, welcomed Dr. Candace Malson of the John J. Pershing Veteran's Administration Hospital who gave a presentation of the efforts given by the VA hospitals.
"What price is a human's life worth?" Malson said. "This is the question we must ask when thinking about the sacrifice our soldiers give and how important it is to support our veterans. At the VA hospital, we want to help as many veterans as possible. With that said, the VA hospitals across the United States have helped around nine million veterans."
Szostak introduced the next speaker, author Lonnie Thiele, saying, "World War I was a mechanized war but by weapons alone, not transportation. Mules were used most of the time to transport weapons and supplies to the battlefield.
Thiele, who has done extensive research on the use of mules during the war. He explained the significant of the use of mules in the midst of World War I.
"Mules were so important to the efforts of the war." Thiele said. "Members of the British Army would say that there was no chance of winning the war without the use of mules."
Thiele continued by explaining that the British Army needed 15,000 mules per month to sustain the war efforts. He said that without businesses in exporting mules, the war could've went differently.
"The British Army needed such a significant amount of mules to sustain the efforts on the battlegrounds. Without mule export businesses, the mule needs would not have been met." Thiele said. "Guyton and Harrington out of Lathrop, Missouri was one of the largest mule exporting businesses during the war. The company exported 180,000 mules to the British Army through 1914-1918."
Szostak ended the event with the final presentation giving details on the price women paid during the Great War.
"Women did serve in the War." Szostak said. "They provided food and clothing to soldiers from their own family's supplies. The women also had to give up their husbands, brothers, and sons to fight in this conflict."
The commemoration presentation ended with refreshments provided by the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Poplar Bluff Chapter.
The World War I exhibit at the Poplar Bluff Library will continue for the remainder of the month. The community is welcome to view the artifacts, pictures, and documentation gathered from the war period.