Title
Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the United States' entry into World War I on April 6, 1917, and honoring the sacrifices of Philadelphia's soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and civilians
Body
WHEREAS, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated on June 28, 1914, setting in motion a series of events through complicated treaty relationships that led to the First World War, also known as "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars"; and
WHEREAS, At the outbreak of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson pledged neutrality for the United States, a position supported by The Public. That changed in 1917, when Germany engaged in unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking United States merchant ships and otherwise causing loss of American citizens' lives; and the Zimmermann Telegram was leaked revealing German overtures to Mexico against the United States; and
WHEREAS, On April 2, 1917, President Wilson requested a Declaration of War against Germany. On April 4th, the Senate voted to support the measure. On April 6th, the House concurred, and the United States officially entered World War I; and
WHEREAS, When the War ended on November 11, 1918, more than two million United States Service Members had joined the fighting, and over 50,000 of them lost their lives; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia was known as the "Workshop of the World" at the time. Companies including Baldwin Locomotive; Midvale Steel and Ordnance Company; the Smith, Kline, and French Company; the Brill Company; the Budd Company; the Frankford and Schuykill Arsenals; the Hog Island Ship Yard; the rifle and ammunition plants at Eddystone; the Philadelphia Base Hospital Units; and many more Philadelphia businesses; provided massive quantities of goods for the war effort; and
WHEREAS, The following Philadelphia-based units served with distinction in the American Expeditionary Forces: the 28th Division, the 312th Field Artillery, the 304th Engineers, the 314th Infantry, and the...
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