The Vancouver Barracks Military Association is hosting a conference dealing with aspects of the First World War that had a local impact. Over a dozen subjects, including the Spanish flu, spruce wood, and troop deployments, will be discussed over the three-day event.
The keynote speaker will be Mitchell Yockelson, who is the lead investigator with the National Archive and Records Administration. Yockelson, who is the author of a number of Books about the conflict, is also the chief historical adviser to the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. Local historians will be joining Yockelson to give presentations.
The conference marks the anniversary of United States' participation in the First World War. American troops landed in Europe June 26, 1917, and remained there until the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Vancouver Barracks was involved in the war according to Jeff Davis, a Vancouver historian and author.
An Army Signal Corps unit, the Spruce Production Division, made Vancouver Barracks its headquarters. The division was charged with the task of logging and milling spruce lumber in order to build warplanes. The division numbered 30,000 men, 5,000 of whom were assigned to the Vancouver spruce mill.
The conference will take place this weekend, May 25 to 27, with free events scheduled for Providence Academy, while programs requiring tickets will be held elsewhere.
Events like this present a lot of information, so organizers might work with a flyer printing company to create handouts for attendees.Get a Free Quote for Books
