The Atlantic American Legion Building (The old Armory) will play host to a program this Sunday afternoon about Iowans’ role in World War One. Leo Landis, Curator at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, will head up the presentation “Somewhere in France/Somewhere in Iowa,” beginning at 2-p.m., Sunday (Nov. 19^th). He says a lot of people are familiar with famous Iowans who served in World War II, but not that many are as familiar with those who’s stories from WW1 need to be heard, as well, including Veterans from Cass County.

Landis lead the research and set-up a special exhibit entitled “Iowa and the Great War,” and says there’s more than one interesting Cass County story to tell. A man from Anita, for instance, served with the Canadian forces overseas. Landis says one of the projects they’re working on pertains to an effort by the Historical Department in the 1920’s, to document the service men and nurses who gave their lives in service of Iowa. There are currently about 2,600 photos of those persons. But he says there were over 3,500 Iowans who died in service, including one that they need from Cass County by the name of Paul Fackler, who is one of the persons Landis will talk about. The title of the presentation, “Somewhere in France/Somewhere in Iowa,” refers in part, to the letters home from the war, and to the soldiers, some of which were published in local papers at the time.

The American Legion Building in Atlantic was completed as a memorial to World War I veterans. It continues to honor veterans and their families with a Military Museum and Military Library. There is no charge to attend Leo Landis’ presentation, but donations to the American Legion Memorial Building in Atlantic are always appreciated.

(For more from Leo Landis, go to the Podcast tab on the KJAN homepage and look for the Heartbeat Today program.)