Governor proclaims May as Arkansas Heritage Month
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson has declared May as Arkansas Heritage Month, with the focus of “A State of War: Arkansas Remembers World War I,” centered on the centennial remembrance of World War I and the 71,000 Arkansans who served.
“The war had a tremendous impact on Arkansas,” Stacy Hurst, Department of Arkansas Heritage director and the state historic preservation officer, said in a news release.
“The absence of so many friends and family members left holes in communities. Then, those left at home had to deal
epidemic of influenza that devastated communities. Many Arkansans may be unaware of the direct and indirect impact the war had within their communities. This commemoration and Arkansas Heritage Month are wonderful opportunities to learn about our history and the significance of Arkansas’s service in the war,” she said.
In his proclamation, Hutchinson said, in part, “Arkansas has a colorful heritage, including its culture, folk arts, fine art, social and political history, and its natural resources; and it is the mission of The Department of Arkansas Heritage to call attention to the history … of our state; and … the stories, memories, artifacts and … history from our past create our culture and help shape the future; and … the heritage heroes from yesterday and today help us remember where we’ve been and where we’re going.”
In March 2016, Hutchinson created the Arkansas World War I Centennial Commemoration Committee by executive order and appointed members to lead the state’s remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the nation’s entrance into the Great War. Through 2018, the committee is encouraging the development and participation in activities that will expand understanding and appreciation of the significance of World War I.
Since 1982, DAH has provided to Arkansans upon request a free, collectible Arkansas Heritage Month poster. This year’s poster features a photograph of a group of World War I-era soldiers in front of the courthouse at Paris in Logan County, taken on June 25, 1916. The photograph was provided courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
The 2017 Heritage Month poster is now available. To order online or view a gallery of past Heritage Month posters, visit http://www.ArkansasHeritage.com or call 501-324-9150 to request a poster.