Parks & Recreation
Date: March 14, 2019
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA — Chesterfield County’s Sesquicentennial of WWI Committee has created an educational traveling trunk to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of World War I. The trunk includes lesson plans for teachers and educators as well as authentic and replica artifacts.
While primarily developed for teachers, the trunk also is useful for any group interested in WWI history, including home-school students, scout troops or community organizations. The traveling trunk offers students a hands-on opportunity to learn about WWI, from the training and preparation, to daily life in the trenches, soldiers’ personal effects, nutrition and the changes that new technologies brought to warfare.
The WWI Traveling Trunk is part of the Chesterfield County Public Library collection and can be reserved online at library.chesterfield.gov. The trunk is checked out and returned to Central Library, 7051 Lucy Corr Boulevard, Chesterfield.
For questions or details concerning the contents of the trunk, please contact Bryan Truzzie, historic sites manager, Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation, at 804-751-4946 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
Chesterfield County During WWI
In 1917, more than 1,500 Chesterfield County men either volunteered or were drafted to serve in World War I, and only initially 167 men were selected for training before they were transported to France to participate in the "Great War." Some men served their full enlistment, and some served only a few months because they died from disease while in training. A recruiting station was set up at the old Chesterfield County courthouse to form an infantry company. Around 100 drafted recruits pitched their tents and camped on the courthouse green, where we now hold the annual Veterans Day ceremony. These soldiers were not just waiting to be shipped to a training camp to prepare for the battles in France, they were also here to be honored by their fellow citizens. One hundred years ago on November 11, 1918 – “At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month” – the Armistice was signed to mark the end of WWI. After that, our soldiers started coming home. Nineteen Chesterfield County soldiers died during WWI. This event commemorates their bravery, paying for freedom with their lives.
For more information, visit chesterfieldhistory.com or call 804-796-7156.