WWI - Homecoming and Memorials

On November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed that officially ended the First World War. New Yorkers had played an important part in the monumental world event that had just occurred. As soon as the troops began coming home, New Yorkers joined the rest of the world in memorializing fallen soldiers. Events honoring American veterans were held beginning in 1918, and continued throughout the 1920s. These events ranged from victory celebrations to solemn memorials, and they were always patriotic in tenor.

Along with official monuments and memorial celebrations, individuals and families across the state grieved their fallen relatives. The New York State Archives has an extensive collection of pamphlets, photos, death certificates, and other documentation dating from directly after the end of the Great War.

World War I was one of the first wars in which, due to new technologies, many fallen soldiers were unidentifiable after battle. For this reason, many nations constructed tombs for their unknown soldiers. Among these countries are France, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States.

One of the prominent architects of numerous monuments around the world was Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. In addition to being a native New Yorker, she was also known for her relation to the famous Vanderbilt family, and for founding the Whitney Museum. During World War I, Whitney established a hospital for wounded soldiers in the Seine-et-Marne département in France. After the war, Whitney put her artistic skills to use designing numerous war memorial statues, including the Washington Heights-Inwood War Memorial, the Victory Arch at Madison Square in New York City, and the St. Nazaire Monument marking the first U.S. landing in France.

*WWI. Soldiers' Monument Belfast, New York. Photograph of Soldiers' Monument in Belfast, New York.

WWI. St. Nazaire Monument. St. Nazaire Monument.

WWI. Rev. Francis Kelly at Burial at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Article summarizing Reverend Francis Kelly's role during the burial at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for World War I.

WWI. Minnie Coleman Memorial Card. Card in memory of Minnie Coleman.

WWI. Minnie Brownell Memorial Card. Card in memory of Minnie Brownell.

WWI. Italian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Italian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

*WWI. Hero Park. Photograph of a Hero Park for veterans in Richmond Borough.

WWI. Roll of Honor in Prospect Park. Roll of Honor in Prospect Park.

WWI. Flag Donation and Memorial Program Cover. Flag donation and memorial program cover for James Hammond and Edgar Lowerre.

*WWI. Coffins Laid Out in Elmira, New York. Coffins laid Out in Elmira, New York.

*WWI. Civil War and World War I Veterans. Photograph of Civil War and World War I Veterans at Memorial Day Ceremony in Ripley, New York.

WWI. Chemung County Memorial. Chemung County Memorial.

WWI. Pelham Memorial Program. Pelham Memorial program.

WWI. Batavia Homecoming. Troops march in the Batavia homecoming parade.

WWI. Cayuga County Banquet Program Cover. Cover for a program honoring troops in Cayuga County.

WWI. Elmira Homecoming. Photograph of Elmira homecoming celebration.

*WWI. Ripley Homecoming Parade, September, 1919. Photograph of Ripley homecoming parade, September, 1919.

WWI. Yates County American Legion. A written outline of the formation of the Yates County American Legion following the November armistice.

WWI. Manhasset Homecoming Poster. Manhasset homecoming poster.

*WWI. Cohoes Homecoming Program Cover. Cohoes Homecoming Program Cover.

WWI. Essex County Homecoming. Essex County Homecoming.

WWI. Madison County Homecoming Program. Madison County homecoming program.

WWI. Albany Tribute to its Dead. A tribute to Albany's dead, as printed in a newspaper.

WWI. Soldier Parade. Soldiers parading through the rain.

*WWI. Armistice Day Cartoon and Poem. Political cartoon and poem published in a newspaper on Armistice Day.

WWI. Memorial Day Gathering. World War I veterans gathering on Memorial Day in Ripley, New York.

WWI. Johnston Memorial Scottish Pipe Band. The Johnston Memorial Scottish Pipe Band, led by John White Johnston, marching in a Decoration Day parade in Rochester, New York, 1921.

*WWI. Park Memorial in Staten Island. Park memorial in Staten Island.