From left to right: Cindy Simoneau, Journalism Department chair; Jodie Gil, assistant professor of Journalism; John D. Monahan, member of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission; Robert S. Prezant, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Christine Pittsley, project manager for Remembering World War 1; and students Michael Apotria, Chloe Gorman, Brokk Tollefson, Melanie Espinal, Chris Rzasa, Lynandro Simmons and journalism graduate Melissa Nunez | Vern Williams photo.
In Fall 2016, Fall 2017 and Fall 2018, students in the Journalism Capstone at Southern Connecticut State University reported stories about Connecticut’s connection to World War I as part of a collaboration with the Connecticut State Library, and project manager Christine Pittsley.
Led by professors Cindy Simoneau and Jodie Mozdzer Gil, the students researched monuments in Connecticut and trends. They also wrote in-depth stories about Connecticut residents who volunteered or served in some capacity during the war.
The reporting gained national recognition from the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission in April 2018.
The following stories have been published in the series:
Profiles
Lawrence Lee Arbuckle: CT Resident Recalls Great-Uncle’s WWI Battle
Vincent Atwood: Bloodiest Battle Left CT Soldier With Shell Shock
Hyman Block: WWI Pilot Detailed Adventures in Autobiography
George Boteler: Physician Treated Soldiers Post-Armistice on Hospital Train
Lucile Connett Boteler: WWI Nurse’s Assistant Battled Influenza Epidemic
Albert Iver Coleman: A Soldier and Musician
Reuben Drummond: WWI Soldier Sent Messages Through Carrier Pigeon
Emma Homola: Family Records and Stories Document WWI Service
Ricardo LaFontaine: Puerto Rican Soldier Overcame Discrimination in WWI
Walter Patrick Moran: Norwich Soldier Saved Friend From Body Bag
Paul Maynard: CT Soldier Died on the Last Day of WWI
Dominic Palermo: WWI Veteran Helped Create New Haven American Legion Post
Nicholas Palermo: Self-Sacrifice During Battle Saved Soldiers
Joseph M. Park: 102nd Infantry Regiment is a Family Tradition
Frank R. Rivers: New Haven Soldier Escaped Death Multiple Times in WWI
Pauline Sands Lee: American Woman Helped French Troops Before the United States Joined WWI
Hanna Horgan Shea: WWI Nurse Met Husband on Transport Ship
William P. Shea: Cmdr. William P Shea’s Service Extended Beyond WWI
James Dudley Skinner: CT Engineer Helped Design Mark VIII Tank
Carlton Stevens: CT Resident Delivered Terms of the Armistice
Thorton Chatfield Thayer: Chesire Resident Archives Family Contributions to WWI
Emil Weiss: Artist Documented World War I
Memorials
Ansonia Built Veterans Memorial Park in the 1990s to Honor All Veterans
Bethany Monuments Honor WWI Service
The WWI Veteran Behind Bristol’s Soldiers’ Memorial
Chester’s World War I Monument Gifted by Local Businessman
Clinton’s War Memorial Honors Veterans
Danbury Honors Veterans at War Memorial
East Haven Teen 1 of 5 From Town Who Died in WWI
Easton Remembers the Great War
Fairfield’s Wall of Honor Recognizes Veterans from 7 Wars
Light Shines Through Hamden WWI Hero
War Hero Among Those Honored on Madison’s Monument
Manchester Memorial Hospital Honors WWI Veterans
Meriden WWI Monument’s Location Has Significance
Milford Doughboy Honors WWI Service
Middletown Residents Helped Fund WWI Monument
Sgt. Stubby Enshrined in Veterans Memorial Park in Middletown
Monroe’s Mirrored Monuments Dedicated to WWI
Naugatuck’s Great War Monument Damaged, Restored
New Britain’s WWI Monument is City’s ‘Grandest’
Author Wants More Recognition for New Haven Monuments
Yale Fields Serve as Backdrop for 102nd Regiment Monument
Newtown’s World War I Monument Mistitled
Dual Monuments Honor North Branford’s War Dead
Norwalk Cannon Reunited With World War I Monument
Pawcatuck WWI Memorial Overlooks Two States
Seymour’s WWI Monument Includes All Wars
Stamford’s Soldiers & Sailors Monument Honors War Service
Stratford’s Mysterious Monument
Waterbury Updates WWI Monument
Wallingford WWI Monument Honors French Flying Ace, Among Veterans
Westport Veterans Memorial Green Includes WWI Monument
Trend Stories
‘Balloonatics’ Photographed War From Above
Connecticut Filmmaker Guy Hedlund Preserved War History
Connecticut’s Italian Immigrants Fought With U.S. in World War I
Connecticut Nurses Earned Respect During WWI
Connecticut Residents Among Those Killed on the Lusitania
Connecticut Students Turned Soldiers
Connecticut Women Became Workers During War
Farmington Woman Among Survivors of Lusitania, Legacy Lives On
Former Heavyweight Champion Fought at Camp Hines
From Athlete, to WWI Soldier, to First Black Judge in CT
Hartford’s Colt Armory Led the Way in Munitions Production During WWI
Hello Girls Recognized a Century Later
Home Guard Patrols Helped in CT During WWI
Jack Barry Misses 1918 World Series for WWI
Naval Units Patrolled U.S. Coast During World War I
Popular CT WWI Poet Never Fought
Submarine Detection Helped U.S. Track Enemy During WWI
Townsend Depicted War Through Illustrations
Townsend War Art Displayed at the New Britain Museum of American Art
Waterbury Among Leaders in WWI Liberty Bonds Sales