World War I-era music fills the hall of Iowa Post 374

As World War I-era music filled the hall of American Legion Post 374 in Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday afternoon, Kathryn Newcomb was reminded of her late father. Upon returning home from serving in Europe during the Great War, he played many of the songs on his harmonica at night while sitting on the back porch of their home in northern Iowa.

“He was a great gentleman, very quiet, very kind-hearted,” Newcomb said of her father, Ottis Weltha, who was born in 1889 and passed in 1965. She has his draft card and discharge papers, along with the harmonica that he purchased while in France and played for his fellow servicemen. “I am glad he came back from the war. What he left me was good memories.”

Weltha is one of the more than 214,000 Iowans who served in World War I, of which 4,088 lost their lives. To commemorate the war’s end 100 years ago, and to honor the service and sacrifice of those from Iowa and the more than 4 million men and women who served in the war, Post 374 and the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church held a World War I Benefit Concert on Veterans Day. A group of 15 post and church members performed several World War I-era songs, as well as the five military branch service songs, all while leading an audience of over 100 Legion Family and community members in song.

“None of those who enlisted 100 years ago are still alive, so I thought it was important to honor their sacrifice because it’s so easy to forget and take that for granted,” said Post 374 member Jim McLellan, who was instrumental in putting together the benefit concert and also sang in the group. “Plus, something like this always gives a esprit de corps to the Legion post and our church. I was hoping that we would be seen as a leader in making this kind of effort."

The concert got underway with a brief background to the start of World War I by Mike Vogt, curator for the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge, followed by everyone standing and singing “America the Beautiful.” Once the audience was reminded of the military’s 5 a.m. wake-up call with “Reveille” performed on the bugle by East High School student Dominic Morris, veterans stood and saluted when they heard their military branch service sung by the group of 15 men.

Vogt introduced each of the 10 World War I-era songs, starting off with “Over There,” which was written by George M. Cohan in 1917 after he learned that America had declared war on Germany. The audience joined in for the refrain, as they did with many of the other songs performed, including “Oh How I Hate to Get Up In the Morning,” “It’s A Long, Long Way to Tipperary,” “Till We Meet Again,” “Smiles,” “Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile,” which was a British song adopted by American troops serving in France, and “Keep the Home Fires Burning.”

“I am so glad were able to put this program on for our community,” said Post 374 member Steve Becker.

Listening to the music was an opportunity for relatives of World War I veterans to pay tribute to their family’s service 100 years ago. Will Page said his great cousin, Leland Page, who is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, drove an ambulance in France. For Isabella Hurless-Banks, the war saw the service of her grandfather, father and uncle, who were from Scotland. She said her father was just a young teenager but lied about his age and drove an ambulance on the western front. A World War I uniform that belongs to McLellan’s brother-in-law’s father, Cpl. Frank McKinley Brandon, graced the stage while Becker said his grandfather’s first cousin served in the war.

The concert concluded with the reading of "In Flanders Fields" and the playing of "Taps" on the bugle by Morris. Virginia Wallace said hearing "In Flanders Field" reminded her of her late husband, Bob, who memorized the poem in grade school and would recite it by heart every Memorial Day.

“Today was just beautiful. It really was good,” said Wallace, a 68-year member of Auxiliary Unit 374. “It brought back good memories.”

Refreshments provided by the Auxiliary unit and church were served following the concert. Post Adjutant Colette Ford said the Legion Family and St. Luke’s Episcopal church working together to make the concert a reality “has just been a neat partnership.”

The concert benefited the Puppy Jake Foundation, a local nonprofit that trains and provides service dogs to veterans living with PTSD, physical disabilities or other service-related challenges. The post raised $1,034 for the foundation.

“This (concert) was a great idea, it was really nice,” said Post Commander Rick Williams, who sang today. “And the fact that we could help the Puppy Jake Foundation too. It’s been a good time.”

Attendees left with a keepsake that featured the World War I-era songs, commemorated the end of the war and celebrated The American Legion's 100th anniversary.

“I’m so glad that I came,” said Norma Hoos. “Just to be a part of it and recognize those that have gone. It was emotional.”