The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center will host a Service of Remembrance Sunday, November 11, 2018, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
The war, in which nearly 17 million people were killed, was especially devastating in Europe, where similar remembrance events are common. The solemn ceremony will be recreated at the Infantry Museum to mark the exact time the armistice was signed ending the war – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
The commemoration features an interdenominational service on Inouye Field beginning at 10 a.m. It will include remarks from Fort Benning chaplains and National Infantry Foundation Chairman LTG (Ret) Tom Metz, with a backdrop of Infantry School trainees in formation and the representatives of the eight nations that participated in the war: the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Australia, France, The Netherlands, Germany and Italy. The colors of each country will be presented and their national anthems played.
An artillery barrage will rage for several minutes, and then the guns will go silent at 11 a.m., just as they did 100 years earlier. The participating nations will lay wreaths and a bugler will play Taps.
Following the Service of Remembrance, guests will be invited to attend the museum’s biannual Paver Dedication Ceremony in Cavezza Hall inside the museum.
Other Veterans Day activities include a mini-camp for children from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (preregistration required) and a flag retirement ceremony at the museum’s fire pit at 12:30 p.m.