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Arkansas Soldiers Remembered During Armistice Centennial

The horrors of war and the sacrifice of those who served were remembered when Arkansas State University held its Armistice Centennial Celebration on Sunday.

The event included the playing of traditional taps, and ASU Chancellor Kelly Damphousse read the names of 38 soldiers from Craighead County who died in World War I. 

History professor Ed Salo said many of the soldiers were young, in their late teens and early 20's.  Some died in combat, and others died from the diseases that were rampant in their quarters.

Bells rang at nearly the exact minute to mark 100 years since the war officially ended on Nov. 11, 1918.  It was well outside the lifespans of everyone present at Sunday's remembrance service in Jonesboro.

Credit Ann Kenda / ARKANSAS PUBLIC MEDIA
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ARKANSAS PUBLIC MEDIA
Veterans and their supporters attend an Armistice Centennial celebration at Arkansas State University on Veterans Day.

"These commemorations remind people what happened, and that's always important," said Salo. 

As she listened to the bells, Deborah Parsons felt for the soldiers who served a century ago.

The grave site of George Pickett, believed to be the first soldier from Craighead County to die in World War I. His body was moved and buried in Jonesboro in 1922.

"The tragedy, the terror and what they faced when they came back." 

This story is produced by Arkansas Public Media. What's that? APM is a nonprofit journalism project for all of Arkansas and a collaboration among public media in the state. We're funded in part through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with the support of partner stations KUAR, KUAF, KASU and KTXK. And, we hope, from you! You can learn more and support Arkansas Public Media's reporting at arkansaspublicmedia.org. Arkansas Public Media is Natural State news with context.

Ann Kenda joined Arkansas Public Media in January 2017 from Sudbury, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and previously worked in public radio, commercial radio and newspaper in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She focuses on health, justice, education and energy as part of the Arkansas Public Media team. Her stories can be found on the airwaves, ArkansasPublicMedia.org and social media.
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