World War I Memorial Foundation Receives $5,000 donation

Frank Buckles was presented with a $5,000 donation in his name to the World War I Memorial Foundation from the Sons of the Revolution in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Tom Vance and Doug Payne visited Buckles at his farm near Charles Town, W. Va., in February to offer the organization’s contribution to the establishment of a national World War I memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. They also gave Buckles an award for his patriotic service. Buckles joined the Sons in 1948.

Last American World War I Veteran Frank Buckles Celebrated His 109th Birthday on Feb. 1

The last surviving United States World War I veteran, Frank Buckles, is celebrating his 109th birthday on Feb. 1. He shared a 109-candle birthday cake with family and friends at his farm near Charles Town, W. Va.

Frank Woodruff Buckles was born in Harrison County, Mo., on Feb. 1, 1901. He lied about his age to enlist and was sent to England. He then served in France as an ambulance driver and later guarded POWs during the Occupation.

Buckles reads and exercises daily, and he is involved in production of a documentary about his life. As honorary chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation, he is dedicated to honoring the memory of his comrades with a memorial on the National Mall. He also wants to see more education and public awareness about World War I.

“When people come here, I ask them, the younger ones, what information they have about World War I, and most of them say either none at all or very little. And that bothers me,” he said.

Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) said, “I wish a very happy birthday to my friend Frank Buckles—a true patriot, a proud West Virginian, and the last surviving veteran of World War I—who turns 109 on Feb. 1. On this special occasion, I am enormously proud to recognize Frank’s leadership as honorary chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation. I share the foundation’s unwavering commitment to rededicating the existing Washington D.C. War Memorial as a national monument honoring every one of our nation’s WWI veterans. And I will continue to champion the Senate legislation [S. 2097] that will make it possible."

Frank Buckles Senate Testimony on World War I Memorial Bill

The last surviving United States World War I veteran, Frank Buckles, testified in the Senate at on S. 2097, a bill to authorize re-dedication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks held the hearing on S. 2097, the Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act on Dec. 3, 2009. The bill, which has 12 cosponsors, was introduced by Senators John D. Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), Jim Webb (D-Va.), and John Thune (R-S.D.), who each testified on its behalf. Edwin L. Fountain, a director of the World War I Memorial Foundation also testified.




View a webcast of the hearing.

Sen. Rockefeller introduces Buckles at time code 29:56, and the foundation’s testimony begins at time code 98:28.