A chapter of our history is closed. The end of an era, the last soldier standing.
RIP Frank Buckles.
Also survived 3 years as a civilian POW in the Philippines during WW2.
And now WWI passes into history - like the Spanish-American War or the Civil War.
When the last soldier dies, a sense that we are part of that history dies with him. For those of us who grew up with WWI vets, it was a living war and living memory.
As of today, WWI will be nothing more than grainy black and photos in a text book.
RIP Frank Buckles and thank you!
“A chapter of our history is closed. The end of an era, the last soldier standing.”
Not many WWII vets left, either.