This wheel was taken from the caisson of the first gun fired by the men of the 151st Field Artillery, a Minneapolis-based National Guard unit, near the Lorraine Front in February 1918.
Two men from Minneapolis, Louis Cukela and George Mallon, earned the Medal of Honor for their heroic service in World War I – both fought along the Western Front in France. You can find more Minnesota connections to the Great War at the Minnesota Military Museum in Little Falls, a one story, converted headquarters building on the grounds of Camp Ripley.
All around France commemorations are taking place to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice a century ago. Tours, Minneapolis’s sister city, is commemorating the establishment of a pilot training facility during World War I. In 2017, Minnesota has been invited to be the featured region at the Foire de Tours, in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the American arrival in France.
Honoring this history will be part of our state’s exhibit – if you’re interested in helping make this project a reality, you can learn more about the Foire de Tours or contact us for more information on joining the history committee. In the meantime, you can take a shorter trip to the Minnesota Military Museum, which is open year round.
