Oklahoma Journeys
Week of November 8, 2008
End of World War I
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Oklahoma takes part in a nationwide day of celebration this week on Oklahoma Journeys. The end of the First World War, November 11, 1918, was cause for almost the entire world to celebrate. Oklahoma let loose with its own style of joyous noise at that time, and that’s the topic of this week’s Oklahoma Journeys from the Oklahoma History Center.
From the Oklahoma History Center, this is Oklahoma Journeys. I’m Michael Dean.
In 1917 the United States officially entered the conflict now known as the First World War. Though it actually began in 1914, the United States opted to remain neutral for the first three years. The entry of the United States into the war tipped the balance of power in favor of Britain and France, and it soon became obvious to everyone that it was only a matter of time before a peace would be declared. Still, the US armed forces fought for almost a year and a half, losing thousands of men, a small number when compared with the losses of other countries but still significant.
It was in this week of 1918 on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month that the fighting was over, and a general truce was declared. When news of the peace reached Oklahoma and the rest of the nation, gleeful chaos ensued. Acting in almost a choreographed manner, Oklahomans from Tom to Felt, from Peoria to Gould rushed into the streets to celebrate the end of the war. Despite the wide geographic separation there were a couple of things consistent with all of the state’s celebrations. Most people felt the need to drive their cars around, and in almost all the towns it seems, explosions of gunfire with residents everywhere blasting shotguns, pistols and rifles into the air, sometimes combining the two by driving and shooting simultaneously; it’s still unknown exactly how many convertibles were unintentionally created in this manner. As in all cases of celebration things sometimes got out of hand and, as inconceivable as it might seem, the mixture of driving, guns, and of course the obligatory drinking resulted in some mishaps.
One of the largest celebrations in the state occurred at Ft. Sill in Lawton. It was reported the armistice celebration there included one of the largest military parades in the United States up to that time, including over 75 military planes flying in formation over the city. 18,000 military personnel participated in the parade along with observation balloons and crews and close to 50,000 spectators. Other towns held impromptu parades that meandered over the region including a three-mile caravan of cars traveling between Sulphur and Davis led by a hearse carrying a picture of the now dethroned German Kaiser. A general state holiday was declared by various city mayors and town officials and most of businesses closed up for the day of the 11th or in some cases for several days, indeed.
Accounts such as these and many others from around the state can be found in the newspaper holdings at the Oklahoma History Center. The Oklahoma History Center is located on NE 23rd Street, just east of the state capitol in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Journeys is a production of the Oklahoma History Center, dedicated to the collection, preservation, and sharing of our state’s past. I’m Michael Dean.