Kansas City, MO – Thousands of people are expected to mark Veteran's Day by attending events at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City.
Early Thursday morning, the WWI Museum is holding a 100 year site dedication ceremony. On Nov. 1, 1921, more than 100,000 people gathered to watch the supreme Allied commanders dedicate the site of the Liberty Memorial.
The dedication ceremony will take place on the North Lawn by the General's Wall beginning at 8AM.
That will be followed by a Veteran's Day Ceremony from 10am - 11am in the Memorial Courtyard with live music and remarks from dignitaries.
See all of the scheduled Veteran's Day events and beyond at the WWI Museum in Kansas City
"To me, this museum defines the 20th century. This war was a significant event that change the world completely," said Ron McGee, museum volunteer. McGee himself is a veteran who served during the Vietnam War.
"I think people need to know veterans are one way to serve their country. You need to develop a sense of loving your nation. This nation does a lot for us,” said McGee.
A tour of the WWI Museum will take about an hour. Some of the sights include poppy fields, guns, uniforms and interactive displays explaining the timeline of events from before, during and after World War 1.
Dorian Cart, senior curator of the WWI Museum, says the collection has grown over time and continues to grow. New this year, an exhibit showing the sights of World War I from the eyes of those who served.
"Snap shots. It's a special exhibition. Photographs taken by people in the war, not professional photographers. We have more than 300 images,” said Cart.
Millions of people have passed through the WWI Museum, including the last 'doughboy' Frank Buckles. But there is another person that Cart said left a lasting impression on him.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell visited the museum in 2008. "He was a long time veteran. When I was taking him around and showing him the different exhibits, he stopped me and said you got it right," said Cart. "I asked what he was talking about."
Powell told him he got it right because he talk about logistics, and no successful war is without logistics, said Cart.