EDITORIAL: World War I chapter closes with death of Frank Buckles

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EDITORIAL: World War I chapter closes with death of Frank Buckles

Posted: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 12:00 am

With the passing of Frank Buckles at the age of 110 in Charles Town, W.Va., on Feb. 27, a momentous chapter in America's history ended.

Buckles, who was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, was America's last surviving World War I veteran - this nation's one remaining link to the "War to End All Wars."

A remarkable historical figure, indeed.

Buckles enlisted in the Army in 1917, sailed for England aboard the Carpathia (the ship best known for rescuing survivors of the Titanic disaster), served in both France and Germany, and rose to the rank of corporal. Fittingly, Buckles was in recent years accorded myriad honors and tributes befitting his unique stature as an American treasure. We last wrote about Buckles in late May 2008, just after he was honored in Kansas City, Mo., as part of a Memorial Day weekend celebration.

All Americans should pause to reflect on the significance of this moment in our history and salute not simply Buckles, but all veterans of the long-ago conflict we know as World War I.

With the passing of Buckles, only history books survive in America to tell stories from one of the 20th century's defining events.

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