Happy 4th of July, Everyone! Today, I thought it would be fitting to write about our visit to the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. I’d like to thank Visit KC for their generosity and making us feel welcomed! We were under tornado watch so as the Californians that we are – we were scared shitless. Okay maybe just me….

So a little fun fact – After the war, Kansas City Leaders came together and in 1919, they raised over $2.5 million in just 10 days. They wanted this memorial to represent the men and women who served in the war.

When you first walk in, you are greeted by the Paul Sunderland Glass Bridge, which has 9,000 red poppies, each representing 1,000 deaths. If you do the math, that equals 9 million lives that were lost as a direct result of the war! The red poppies became symbolic because of the poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.

In Flander’s Field by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Once you cross the bridge, you enter a little theatre to watch a short film about the war. After that, you enter the exhibit, and be prepared to be amazed. I wasn’t sure if Carter would like this museum or not but he didn’t even want to leave. There are lots of displays and some interactive exhibits as well.

Although this post is in collaboration with Visit KC, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Now I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July! What are you all up to?