THE WAR TO END ALL WARS

                       THE  WAR  TO  END  ALL  WARS

                               NORMAN  V.  KELLY

Here it is 2017, almost a full one hundred years since the great events of WW1 touched folks not only here in Peoria but all over the world.  As a local historian I often lectured and wrote about the wars that brought Peorians into harms way.   I never really counted the names on the Civil War monument in our courthouse square but 550 seem to be the number most people agree on.  WW1 cost 211 Peoria lives and WW11  killed 662 men from Peoria City and County.  The Korean War claimed 51 and the Vietnam just about the same figure.  Hell, way back in the Spanish American War, Peoria had a navy man, George Ellis killed in the battle with the Spanish Armada. The United States Navy built and named a destroyer after George Ellis, the rarest of honors indeed. Peoria was a great liberty town and we had our share of service men and women coming and going during all those wars. The Civil War was certainly a part of our history, although no actual battles were fought in our area. I was right here in downtown Peoria, Illinois as a teen waving an American flag and cheering my head off as we paraded around town when WW11 ended. It was an exciting, wonderful day that Peorians that were here will never forget.

 

                                                   WW 1

It was a glorious day here in Peoria, Illinois when Peorians woke up to the news that WW1 was over.  I was not here, but I can tell you about that day as if I were right there on Main Street, banging pots and pans and yelling my fool head off.   Peorians used the phrase ‘Over There,” a lot because of a great song that was written by George M. Cohan called, “Over There.”   All the local rallies included the singing of that song:  “We’re coming over and it won’t be over ‘till it’s over over there.”  Did you know that President Roosevelt award George M. Cohan the

Congressional Gold Medal for his contribution to the morale of our fighting men during 1917 and 1918. Truth is he did not get around to making that award until 1936, but he got it done.

 

It was 1:52 A.M., November 11, 1918 here in Peoria when the word began to spread from a newsroom here to other newspaper workers, to wives, and family and finally the lights went on all over the city and before the sun had risen hundreds of folks were either downtown or on their way.  They walked, rode bikes, drove cars and came by horse and buggies until the streets downtown were hopelessly jammed.  Most brought something to make noise with from whistles to pots and pans.  Bands from all over began to form up downtown and impromptu groups gathered to march around the courthouse square.  Military men assembled in full uniform along with military bands and even some army equipment joined in the grand parade.

 

There was pandemonium in the streets and of course a lot of men packed a bit of booze and soon the merriment took a notch above cacophony.  Finally the mayor posted a proclamation on the doors of the City Hall and told Peorians to “Com On Down Town!” And they did by the thousands.  Rural folks came and soon there was simply no more room.  The long lines of people holding hands snaked through the narrow spaces on the street and the bands played on.

 

At noon every church that had a bell rang it and folks began to circle the churches, holding hands and giving thanks to God for the victory over the terrible Hun…the War to end all wars was over…God Bless America!  Of course the politicians were in on the festivities and through megaphones they spoke of the glory of America’s Victory and the older folks followed them to the Shrine and Coliseum where they would be welcomed with a cup of coffee and a chance to sit down.  The younger celebrants were still interested in roaming the streets and of course by then old Demon Rum was pushing them on.  Still, according to reports in the morning paper the police rarely had to intercede and the demonstrations went on until almost midnight.  But by then the crowd had thinned and the noise had ceased.  The wind kicked up and blew the toilet paper, torn up newspapers and debris around the empty streets.  The War was over and now the thoughts were on bringing our Doughboys back home.

 

That was November 11, 1918, all of Peoria’s Breweries and Distilleries were closed since September of 1917, our taverns and saloons were still open but they too would be closed by January 16, 1920.  The ‘Fighting Doughboy” was coming home, but where would he work?  That my friends....is a story for another day.

Editor’s note;   Norm is a True Crime Writer and Peoria Historian who contributes monthly to ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net