World War I
(1917-1918 U.S. Involvement)
Meuse-Argonne, France (9/18-11/18) 26,277
Aisne-Marne, France (7/18-8/18) 6,992
Somme, France (8/18-11/18) 3,221
Oise-Aisne, France (8/18-11/18) 1,919
St. Mihiel, France (9/18) 1,799
Champagne-Marne, France (7/18) 1,485
Cantigny, France (4/18-7/18) 963
Ypres-Lys, Belgium, France (8/18-11/18) 894
Chateau-Thierry, France (6/18-7/18) 886
Participants 4,734,991
In Theater Deaths 53,402
Deaths in Service 63,114
Wounded in Service 204,002
Missing in Action 4,452
Illinois Deaths 3,016
Kane County Deaths 151
The last county World War I veteran, Raymond George Geister, died on 2/6/2000 at age 105.
1914 - World War I began in Europe, triggered by the assassination in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary.
1915 - The British passenger liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat, which caused the death of 128 American civilians.
1917 - The first Selective Service Act passed Congress.
1917 - The United States declared war on Germany.
1918 - By Spring U.S. troops were being
this page online
1918 - Germany agreed to an armistice.
1919 - The combatant nations signed the Treaty of Versailles.
Over 65 million served in uniform in all combatant countries (1914-1918).
Over 8 million died on active service, and over 21 million were wounded.
Over 6 million civilians died and the war created 3 million widows and 10 million orphans.
From income tax increases and the sale of bonds, the U.S. raised $23 billion for the war effort from a population with an annual income of less than $70 billion.
An attack is launched from a front line trench, one of a system of trenches that zigzagged along the Western Front.
During World War I the airplane emerged as a new weapon of war, although for most of the war airplanes were used to observe enemy activities.
"The world must be made safe for democracy."
President Woodrow Wilson
Erected 2004 by Kane County Officials and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #28 Woodrow Wilson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Kane County Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Spanish-American / Philippines War (here, next to this marker); World War II (here, next to this marker); Korean War (here, next to this marker); Vietnam (here, next to this marker); Kane County Government Center (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); JFK Campaign Speech (approx. half a mile away); The Lincoln Highway (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Geneva.
Also see . . .
1. World War I Facts, Information and Articles. HistoryNet website entry (Submitted on May 25, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century. Eight part PBS video series; episodes summations (Submitted on May 25, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Interactive World War I Timeline. National WWI Memorial and Museum website entry (Submitted on May 25, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. World War I: The War That Changed Everything
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 325 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 25, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on April 28, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
