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Content here is from the Collections of and Courtesy of the Beacon Historical Society Beacon’s William Wilson: eponym of an American war hero Wilson was killed in Belgium August, 19, 1918, 12 months to the day after a jubilant departure from Beacon. As published in the Beacon Free Press September 2018. Written by Robert Murphy, Beacon Historical Society. Compiled by Theresa Kraft. Over 556 young men from Beacon went off to this Great War. Young men, most of them were born and reared amid humble surroundings. They were not considered great as the world measures greatness, but they were destined to achieve it. They responded to the call of duty. On August 19, 1917, these men would march out of the Newburgh Armory, ferry across the river to Beacon to catch the train for camp in New York City. While waiting here at the railroad station, these soldiers would be greeted by a crowd of a thousand well-wishers all gathered to give a patriotic farewell to their neighbors and sons going Over There to fight the Hun. For a handful of these men from Beacon, this would be the last time they would ever see their hometown again. We must not forget our martyred dead, Beacon’s immortal thirteen. These brave sons who met the supreme test without flinching, who sacrificed their young lives up on the altar of their country. This year Beacon commemorates the 100th anniversary of the death of the soldier who is the eponym of an American war hero–Private William B. Wilson. He was killed in action in Belgium on August 19, 1918, the first soldier fromBeacon to die in World War I. Today, a century after his death on the battlefield, few know of him or the reason why the Wilson Post – Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 666 was so named. History can be fickle and easily forgotten after a generation or two, but Private Wilson’s story of sacrifice needs to be retold and remembered. Private Wilson and his 107th Regiment sailed to Europe in the spring of 1918, and spent the early summer months in training before facing the grueling trench warfare against the Germans. By that August, the 107th was ordered to the Dickebush Lake sector in Belgium, where they joined up with a British Battalion so that the Yanks could be “eased into the war” next to their more experienced British counterparts. The Regimental historian of the 107th would later describe this sector as the “Noisiest, smelliest, ugliest, muddiest of places anywhere along the Western Front.” It was also a killing zone for the Allies.  From the high ground of nearby Mont Kemmel the Germans would rain down mortar shells and sniper fire onto the American trenches. On the day of August 19, Private Herb Miller of Newburgh pulled sentry duty at an observation post close to the German lines. Private Miller was felled by enemy sniper fire, and was unable to be rescued in daylight because of the immanent peril of the situation. At nightfall Private Wilson and Corporal Richard Connery volunteered as stretcher-bearers to bring back Miller. Both came under mortar fire; Connery was wounded, Wilson was killed trying to carry the body of his best friend, Herb Miller, out of No-Man’s Land. Best friends—Miller and Wilson—were the only fatalities recorded by the Regiment that day, August 19, 1918. Word of Wilson’s and Miller’s deaths reached their hometowns on September 18, 1918. The best friends had died on the same day, August 19, the only two soldiers from Company L to be killed on that day. Robert Murphy has been president of the Beacon Historical Society since 1998. Beacon Daily Herald List of Servicemen as of May 15, 1918 Beacon WWI Honor Roll William B Wilson George Deverson George Stafford Frank Cramade Thomas B Carroll Frank H. Van Houten Gordon Deicke George Delahay James J. Tomlins Fred Garrison Pasale Salese John J. Bump A list of City of Beacon “World War” veterans compiled in the early 1920’s, from NYS Archives, via DCHS.

11-panel exhibition: click image below Exhibition guide: FDR Presidential Library Dover Pine Plains Millerton Legion Millbrook Library Millbrook Library Stanford Poughkeepsie Waterfront Red Hook Beacon VFW Vassar College Beacon Hist. Soc. Please let us know if there is an event or location you would like see this exhibition This exhibition has traveled to the following cities and towns in the county: FDR Presidential Library & Museum, Hyde Park, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County Fair, Rhinebeck, East Fishkill, Pleasant Valley, Millbrook, Stanford, North East, Dover, Milan, Poughkeepsie waterfront, Pine Plains, Clinton, Beacon, Red Hook. We are happy to have it shown at your event or location.

Being 100% American. When the United States entered the “World War,” the country had a population of 100 million, many of whom were recent immigrants.  German-Americans, who were among the largest ethnic groups in the Hudson Valley, became the target of widespread hysteria. “Real Americans” responded by refusing to drink German beer, by burning German-language books, by changing the names of German sounding food on menus, and by removing the works of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven from orchestra programs. The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 prohibited many forms of speech perceived of as disloyal. While American propaganda, infused with patriotism was stifling freedom of speech, our men and women were overseas fighting for democracy. One of the posters Van Vlack chose to photograph asked, “Are you 100% American?” Although difficult to read due to movement, Van Vlack captured parade signs reflecting diverse groups staking out their absolute Americanness, patriotism, and loyalty. Under Construction: We welcome contributions from organizations and individuals as long as the information is relevant, well-researched and/or documented

Click to enlarge and read Muster Roll ~ WWI Veterans from the Town of Clinton Memorial Town Hall front lawn, Centre Road, Schultzville, Town of Clinton, 1955. Brass plaque mounted on 6 foot stone boulder with 30 foot flagpole behind. “Memorial to the men and women of the Town of Clinton who served their country in time of war. Civic Association Town of Clinton.” Early correspondence at NYS Archives Published and unpublished county-wide information from the period relating to draftees, others 1917 Partial County-wide Draft List “Enterprise” 1917 Full County-wide Draft List “Eagle News” as PDF 1918 County-wide Honor Roll 1919 County-wide Honor Roll 1926 Corrections & Updates by Van Vlack 1919-1924 NYS Historian Correspondence

Prior winners: Adams Fairacre Farms ~ Central Hudson ~ Children’s Home ~ EFCO ~ Marshall & Sterling ~ McCabe & Mack LLP ~ N&S Supply ~ Page Park Associates ~ Poughkeepsie Journal ~ Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery ~ Rhinebeck Bank ~ Saint Francis Hospital  ~ N&S Supply ~ Vassar Brothers Medical Center ~ Vassar-Warner Senior Residence~ Zimmer Brothers Prior Awardees Adams Fairacre Farms ~ Central Hudson ~ Children’s Home ~ EFCO ~ Marshall & Sterling ~ McCabe & Mack LLP ~ N&S Supply ~ Page Park Associates ~ Poughkeepsie Journal ~ Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery ~ Rhinebeck Bank ~ Saint Francis Hospital  ~ N&S Supply ~ Vassar Brothers Medical Center ~ Vassar-Warner Senior Residence~ Zimmer Brothers 2020/2021 Page Park Associates 2019 Steve & Pat Adams 2018 Wayne and Stephanie Nussbickel with Denise Van Buren. 2017 Accepting for Central Hudson, Denise Doring Van Buren 2016 Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery Board President Michael Graham