111th Infantry Regiment "Ben Franklins Associators"

Happy Thanksgiving from the Associators! As we sit down and give thanks this year let us remember the many years that the 111th Infantry and it's predecessors have spent in the field or at war. This menu from the Regimental Archives shows the meal that Associators sat down to for Thanksgiving 1917 while on duty in Camp Hancock, Georgia. The Regiment underwent rigorous training at Camp Hancock in preparation for entry into WWI. Only a few months later they would be on their way to France, and would not return home until 1919.

Fellow Associators: We have decided not to hold the Formal Regimental Mess this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Pennsylvania and venue requirements, as well as the safety of our members dictate that we cancel this years event. We will instead hold a Regimental Reunion Event in Spring 2021.... We will provide updates to this Facebook page on the 2021 Reunion, as we finalize our plans. We thank you for your continuing support of the 111th Infantry Regimental Association and look forward to seeing you at the Regimental Reunion, and next year's Regimental Mess.

November 11th marks Veterans Day in the United States, but in many places around the world it is still known by it's original name, Remembrance or Armistice Day.... The holiday was established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 to commemorate the end to World War I, which came with the Armistice at eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the evelventh month of 1918. The 111th Infantry Regiment was still engaged in combat the morning of November 11th, 1918 when the war came to a close. Even losing men in action as late as that morning, only hours before the cessation of hostilities. This footage recently retrieved from the US National Archives by a member of the 111th Infantry shows soldiers of the 28th Division Pennsylvania National Guard celebrating the end of the war, 102 years ago today.

This IDT weekend select soldiers from across 1-111 IN attended a Battle of Gettysburg Staff Ride. A staff ride uses lessons from past military engagements to educate current soldiers on tactical planning and decision making. This staff ride focused on Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiments who’s lineage is carried on by units in the modern Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Among the units studied was the 72nd Pennsylvania, the predecessor of today’s 111th Infantry. Thank you to Historian James Taub who provided an overview of the battle and background on Philadelphia regiments in the Civil War.