Veterans Day commemorated with newspapers

Jerry Smith of Nash Street has framed issues of The Parkersburg Sentinel of Nov. 11, 1918, marking the end of the first World War, and the Aug. 14, 1945, issue of The Parkersburg News announcing the end of World War II.

“I was four or five months old,” said Smith, who is 72.

Smith is a collector and prefers artifacts of the American Civil War. Smith said he has a Japanese bayonet from World War II upon which there is dried blood.

Veterans Day is Saturday and is observed each year on the 11th day of November. It started as Armistice Day when Germany surrendered ending World War I.

“I thought I would bring these out because of Veterans Day on Saturday,” he said.

The World War I era Sentinel was acquired 15 or 20 years ago by his late brother, Ray Smith, Smith said. He bought it at a yard sale shop, Smith said.

“He wanted to know if I wanted it after he kept it for a while,” Smith said.

The Parkersburg News from World War II was found at the Rinky Dinks flea market where the vendor requested $2 and Smith said it was a deal.

The story by Associated Press was pasted over the entire front page of the special edition. The headline said “PEACE.”

For the armistice in World War I, residents were invited to a “100 percent American Parade” at 8 p.m. Nov. 18.