April 6 marks 100 years since U.S. entered WWI

INDIANAPOLIS – The United States officially entered World War I on April 6, 1917, a war that changed our state, nation and the world forever. To coincide with the 100th anniversary of the United States entering World War I, the Indiana World War I Centennial Committee will host a ceremony on April 6, 2017 from noon to 1 p.m. inside Pershing Auditorium at the Indiana War Memorial to commemorate the start of the war.

This event will bring Hoosiers together in honor of the United States’ official entry into World War I. The ceremony will feature speakers including Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Brig. Gen. Ronald A. Westfall, director of Joint Staff, Indiana National Guard and Judge Jim Osborne, vice chair of the Indiana World War I Centennial Committee, president of the Indiana Military Museum. The members of the Indiana World War I Centennial Committee will also be introduced to the public.

“The World War I anniversary is a time to honor and remember the many Hoosiers who have served in our military and given their lives for our freedom,” said Jim Corridan, chair of the Indiana World War Centennial Committee and director of the Indiana Archives and Records Administration. “It is important for us to recognize the 135,000 Hoosiers who served in The Great War and the 3,000 who sacrificed their lives.”

Attendance is free and open to the public. Parking is available at metered locations surrounding the Indiana War Memorials Plaza Historic District.

For more information about the event visit www.ww1cc.org/indiana.

This is the first in a series of events that the Indiana World War I Centennial Committee will sponsor throughout the commemoration over the next two years.

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​About the Indiana World War I Centennial Committee 
The Indiana World War I Centennial Committee is responsible for planning, developing and executing programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I in the state of Indiana. The Committee aims to encourage private organizations and local governments to organize and participate in activities commemorating the centennial of World War I. The Committee’s goal with its endorsements is to increase the number of people in Indiana who will be exposed these educational programs, tools, projects, and activities, and broaden their impact.