bjgreen
This 1918 memorial now stands on Lillie Avenue near the fire station in Summerland.
By Betsy J. Green
The Great War in Europe was still raging, but the wide-awake folks in Summerland were not waiting for the war’s end to pay homage to the young men of their community who were risking their lives. On September 21, 1918, the local paper reported, “Summerland was the scene of patriotic enthusiasm … when an attractive program marked the dedication of the new flagpole with its handsome memorial pedestal. The pole stands in the center of the town.”
The monument was dedicated to the Summerland boys in the Armed Forces and their names were engraved on the sides of the monument. There were speeches and songs. The event ended with the crowd singing the popular World War I song “Over There.” FYI – There will be a memorial page for the WWI soldiers in “Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1918.”
I will be presenting a talk called “Countdown to Armistice” on Sunday afternoon, November 4 at the Goleta Historical Society, and at the Central Library on Sunday, November 11 – the 100th anniversary of Armistice. My presentation will describe the joy and relief in Santa Barbara when World War I ended, and the dark and gloomy weeks that preceded it.
My next Way Back When book — 1918 — will be available in local bookstores in November, and at Amazon.com. This will be the fifth book in my series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time.
Learn more about me at my website: betsyjgreen.com
