Special to The Leader

AUSTIN, Texas—On April 6, 2017, Texans will observe the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I. In observance of the upcoming centennial, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) is collaborating with the Texas World War I Centennial Commemoration to honor the role of Texas and Texans in the Great War.

The THC is asking for the public’s help in identifying visitor-accessible sites where World War I is interpreted or preserved in Texas. County Historical Commissions and like-minded preservationists can help create an inventory of locations housing World War I-related exhibits, archives, trophy artillery, memorials, markers, and monuments. The information gathered by this request for assistance will greatly benefit heritage tourists, plus historians and public school students actively conducting research during the centennial.

Please email information to TXinWWISurvey@thc.state.tx.us, noting what is located in your community. If possible, include a photo, the street address, or GPS waypoint for the location of the resource. You can also mail information to: Texas Historical Commission, Military Sites Program, P.O. Box 12276, Austin, Texas 78711-2276. Please note, the agency is not requesting information on personal items held in family or private collections.

The THC’s Texas First World War Centennial Commemoration will officially observe a period fromApril 6, 2017 (date of the U.S. Declaration of War on Germany) through June 28, 2019 (signing of the Treaty of Versailles). Additional projects for the commemoration will include a new dedicated page on the agency’s website, and a mobile app tour for travelers to use as they explore related sites throughout the state. For more information, please contact Alicia Downard at alicia.downard@thc.state.tx.us or 512-936-0849.