National History Day launches WWI educational program

Are you a teacher interested in having your middle and high school students learn more about World War I, which ended 100 years ago this year? Want to get them excited by learning about the generation of American men and women that participated in the Great War from their very own communities?

On Oct. 1, National History Day, an affiliate of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, announced the launch of "Who They Were," a program that mobilizes students and educators across the country to learn about their own community’s World War I story and to participate in local centennial observations in November.

Using the "Who They Were" activity toolkit, available at www.nhd.org/whotheywere, middle and high school students can create a short narrative about their community’s World War I generation and present it at their school or at a local event, possibly before local veterans’ groups. The activity can be done by individuals or groups, either in a classroom or after-school program setting, using the "Who They Were" educator guide, or as a student-driven project.

Once completed, the "Who They Were" narratives can be added to an online map connecting students to a wider World War I centennial commemoration and allowing a global audience to learn about the U.S. World War I generation in their own communities.

This commemorative effort led by the World War I Commission will culminate in the centennial observance of the armistice that ended World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. Educators and students can participate through the end of 2018 and into the summer of 2019, in parallel with local wartime homecoming anniversaries and other community-based centennial events. Following the end of the centenary period, the activity toolkit will continue to be available online.

National History Day is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. Its National History Day Contest was established in 1974 and currently engages more than half a million students in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. For more information, visit www.nhd.org.

Providence VA Medical

Center news items

— Ground was broken recently for a new 450-space parking garage for the Providence VA Medical Center (PVAMC) on Chalkstone Avenue. VA and congressional delegation members and local dignitaries plunged their ceremonial shovels into dirt to mark the beginning of the new $12-million project estimated to be ready for fall 2019. An increase in the recent number of veteran outpatient medical appointments has created a shortage of available parking spaces for veterans, visitors and staff. Jarrett Construction Co. from Montgomery, Alabama, will serve as general contractor. The garage will not be connected to the main hospital building but will have an elevator and be handicapped accessible.

— Flu shot season is here and the PVAMC and its specialty clinics began holding walk-in flu shot clinics on Oct. 1 and lasting through May 31, excluding holidays. Flu shots are free to enrolled veterans and are also available during regular VA patient appointments or by request at PVAMC Primary Care and its specialty community clinics.

The PVAMC’s walk-in clinic is set up in the main hospital’s front entrance lobby from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, through Nov. 21. The community-based outpatient clinics will offer flu shots as follows: Middletown, 1 Corporate Place, Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. through May 31; New Bedford, Massachusetts, 175 Elm St., Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Nov. 20; Hyannis, Mass., 233 Stevens St., weekdays from 1 to 3 p.m. through Dec. 31; and, the Eagle Square eye clinic, 623 Atwells Ave., Providence, Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. through Nov. 15. You can also visit any Walgreens Pharmacy, present your VA ID card along with another photo ID and receive your free flu shot in the store.

— The PVAMC needs volunteer drivers to assist the Veterans Transportation Network with providing injured and ill veterans free transportation in their vehicles to VA medical facilities. Drivers are needed for morning shifts (6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and afternoon shifts (11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Download a volunteer application at https://www.providence.va.gov/giving/index.asp. A physical exam and background check are required. Call Jim at (401) 457-3387 for more information.

Meetings

— The Rhode Island House Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, 10 a.m. Mon., Oct. 15, Room 135, State House, Smith Street, Providence.

— Veterans of Foreign Wars: Gatchell Post 306 and Auxiliary units, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket, and a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, the last for the year, will be held on Oct. 25 at the post home, from 4 to 7 p.m., with $10 tickets sold at the door; Smithfield Memorial Post 2929, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, 47 Farnum Pike, and a Council of Administration meeting will be held at Post 2929 at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 20; Kelley-Gazzerro Post 2812, 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston.

— Disabled American Veterans Josiah Broadfoot Chapter 6, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, VFW Post, 113 Beach St., Westerly. Project Outreach of Westerly assists veterans with disability claims, health benefits and pension questions; call the Westerly VFW post at (401) 596-0470 or visit the post at 113 Beach St. to meet with service officers on the first Wednesday and the third Monday of the month, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

— American Legion: Williams Shield Jr. Post 43, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 662 West Shore Rd., Warwick; Berard-Desjarlais Post 88, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, 111 Chapel St., Harrisville.

— R.I. Special Forces Association quarterly business meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, Gregg's Restaurant, 4120 Quaker Lane, North Kingstown, with an informal social hour with dinner before the meeting (note meeting is one day earlier than originally scheduled).

— Vietnam Veterans of America James Michael Ray Memorial Chapter 818, social gathering at 6 p.m. followed by a business meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, Lincoln Senior Center, 150 Jenckes Hill Rd., Lincoln.

— U.S. Submarine Veterans Rhode Island Base, 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18, R.I. Aviation Hall of Fame building, 6854 Post Rd., North Kingstown, and all submariners are welcome.

— U.S. Navy Seabee Veterans of America Island X-1 Davisville, 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, Seabee Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown.

— Fleet Reserve Branch 42, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, Seabee Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown.

Send veterans’ meeting and news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@gmail.com