There's one doughboy from WW I still living

I gleaned so much food for thought at the Liberty Memorial Museum, I can hardly contain myself. Cliff and I both want to return, because you just can't see everything there in one visit.

One of the guides told us that there is one single American Veteran of World War I (doughboy) still living. He was born at Bethany, Missouri, which is the area where many of my aunts and uncles lived and died.

His name is Frank Buckles, and you can read about him HERE. Last year, at age 107, he visited Liberty Memorial; he told them he'd be back this year. Isn't that amazing?

This almost looks as if Cliff is at the scene.


This will likely be my last post about the museum.

One thing that impressed me was the way every single item is labeled and named. You don't have to stand there wondering what you're looking at.

There are two movies, one at the beginning of the tour and one halfway through, that explain what was going on with the war. The second one is especially memorable, since spectators seem to be sitting above a battleground while the movie tells what's happening.

More pictures from Liberty Memorial

Admission to the museum was $8; for an additional $2, you get an elevator ride to the top of this tower. Cliff doesn't care for heights, but he gave in to my pleading. After spending three hours in the actual museum, it was nice to get out into the sunshine and do something a little different.
There's an inscription on the base of the tower saying something about "in honor of those who served".

I don't know why Cliff looks so grumpy, waiting at the elevator; probably he's tired of getting his mug stuck in my blog all the time. I wanted a picture of the hippie-looking guy running the elevator, but he wouldn't allow it. "I don't do pictures," he said, turning his back to me quickly.

"You'd probably put it on Myspace and get me in trouble with fourteen of my girl friends."

I told him I don't do Myspace; I blog. "See there?" he retorted. "Same thing."

Hey, the guy was not so handsome. He might have a couple of girl friends, but not fourteen. It's no great loss to my readers that I didn't get his picture.

The elevator doesn't go quite all the way to the top; there are a few steps to climb.

The view was fantastic. That's Kansas City's Union Station you see in the forground.


This looks out toward where we were parked.

World War I art from the trenches

Because their mess kits were made of soft aluminum, the soldiers enjoyed personalizing them in their spare time.

Real talent, I'd say.

The doughboys made these works of art from shell casings.

Cliff especially enjoyed the guns...

and the cannons.

On our way to Liberty Memorial, Cliff asked, "What started that war, anyhow?"

"I don't have the slightest idea," I told him.

Well, we both know now. And we know that in truth, World War II was only a completion, or perhaps continuation, of World War I.

I will tell you that I'm really interested in learning more about this "war to end all war". I'm going searching for a novel set in that time. Maybe an Earnest Hemmingway?

Different sort of day

Cliff slept in this morning, so I didn't rush him around to go to church. We sat in our recliners watching CBS Sunday morning.

"What's on your agenda today?" I asked him.

"Oh, not much," he answered. "Maybe clean up the car later. It's pretty cold yet. Why, what did you have in mind?"

"Well, I've always wanted to see that museum at Liberty Memorial."

"What??? People get shot down there every day!"

"No, Cliff; not at Liberty Memorial. It's a World War I museum. I'm sure it's safe enough."

We headed to downtown Kansas City, Cliff not saying much except to mumble something about getting shot.

"Do you think," he says to me, dead serious, "I should put my credit cards someplace in case we get mugged?"

"We're not going to get mugged!"

Actually, once we were in Kansas City I had a few doubts of my own. For reasons unknown, the GPS took us in the back way, and we went through several blocks of territory I've only seen in Midtown Miscreant's blog, with piled-up trash bags and all.

At one point, Cliff exclaimed, "Oh good Lord, there's Troost! That's where that kid got shot last night!"

Once at the museum, though, our worries fled, and Cliff almost audibly sighed with relief.

As I type this entry, I hear him on the phone with his brother telling him, "Oh, you need to go see that museum at Liberty Memorial; I'll guarantee you won't be disappointed."

Cliff loves museums. The only problem is getting him out of the house and in the car, headed that way.

I took lots of pictures and will be sharing some of them. For now, here's a picture Cliff took of me at the top of Liberty Memorial with Kansas City in the background.


It's been a great day!