TRAVERSE CITY — World War I was a meat grinder.
It chewed up more than 35 million soldiers and civilians from 1914 to 1918, ranking it one of the deadliest in human history. It ended on Nov. 11, 1918, and is the original reason we celebrate Veterans Day today.
A total of 116,516 American soldiers died, including 5,000 from Michigan and 87 men from Grand Traverse County.
Lt. Harry Holliday was one of them.
The son of city physician George and Jennifer Holliday, his memory lives on as a namesake of Bowen-Holliday American Legion Post No. 35.
He received a Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in the face of the enemy at the Second Battle of the Marne on July 15, 1918. The bond between Holliday and his family is preserved in 350 letters his father, who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, wrote home to his grieving wife and daughters.
In Sunday's paper, the Record-Eagle will begin a two-day series in our news and feature sections in honor of Veterans Day. They tell the Holliday story and also chronicle a community effort by Grand Traverse County's women's club to build memorials to honor local veterans of that time.
History
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Special to the Record-Eagle
Record-Eagle series to focus on WWI vet
- Recent History Articles
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News from 100 years ago: 06/17/2013
H.S. HULL has added the launch “Hilda” to the fleet of boats on Lake Leelanau. It is said that there are to be some fast motor boat races pulled off on that lake this summer.
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Editor's note on 06/03/2013 historical photo
Historical photo information, provided by readers, for the June 3 image:
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News From 100 Years Ago: 06/10/2013
THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE ZOO in Hannah Park came in the shape of a fawn, which arrived yesterday morning.
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News From 100 Years Ago: 06/03/2013
OAK PARK MOTHERS CLUB holds its last meeting of the school year. The election of next year’s officers took place. A discussion of the school’s gardens with Mrs. Omans discussing the subject. Various points of view on the success and teaching the children about property care were made.
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Editor's note on May 20 historical photo
The serviceman pictured in the May 20 photo is Richard Routsong, and the woman is his wife, Jean Straub Routsong.
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News from 100 Years Ago: 05/27/2013
MEMORIAL DAY will be observed at Williamsburg Friday by a program to be held in the Town Hall at 2:00.
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Info on May 13 historical photo
Historical photo information, provided by readers, for the May 13 image:
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News from 100 Years Ago: 05/20/2013
Marriage licenses were issued today to William J. Smith and Alta E. Wells, both of Traverse City; Will M. Russell and Lola May McCombs, both of Buckley, R.F.D. No. 1.
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News from 100 Years Ago: 05/13/2013
The fire department was called out this morning for a bad chimney fire at the home of John Nesbitt, 418 West Seventh Street. No damage was done.
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News from 100 Years Ago: 05/06/2013
Commissioner form of government is now a reality in Traverse City, the new administration having taken hold of city affairs last evening.
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News from 100 Years Ago: 04/29/2013
The residence at 841 Washington Street, which was damaged by fire Saturday night, was owned by Mrs. Martha Douglass, who occupied the house.
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News From ... 100 Years Ago: 04/22/2013
Grayling will be the official site of the Michigan National Guard Encampment. The Bill providing for this has passed both branches of the legislature and is up for the Governor for his signature. That it will be signed is certain in view of his sp
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Readers identify folks in April 15 historical photo
Historical photo information, provided by readers, for the April 15 image: n Mr. and Mrs. Ed and Minnetta Zobel, and their two sons, Edgar on the left and Arno on the right. The photo was probably taken in 1940 about the year Edgar graduated from Tr
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Readers provide info on historical photo
Historical photo information, provided by readers, for the March 25 image:
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News from 100 Years Ago: 04/15/2013
A pretty wedding was solemnized at the Isadore parsonage yesterday morning when Miss Mary Bartunek and Jos. E. Athinson were married by Father Beryak.
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News from 100 years ago: 06/17/2013
