In 2012, I contacted my former high school history teacher with an idea. I wanted to share my passion for studying the Great War (1914-1918) with students and help shed light on this tragically neglected chapter of history. The resulting presentation explored the weapons and tactics of the First World War with an emphasis on the experiences of the soldiers in the trenches and the cultural and economic forces that governed their lives and their suffering. The students loved it, and every year since then, it has become an eagerly anticipated part of the fall curriculm.
The year 2018 marked the centennial of most of the battles in which the United States participated in World War I. I wanted to share the story I was telling to students with a wider audience and take a leadership role in commemorating the war’s centennial in my local community. The Longmont Museum brought me aboard as guest speaker for their World War I commemoration programming. My presentation packed the museum’s auditorium with more than 80 paying attendees. Following this success, I spoke at the Nederland Mining Museum in Nederland, CO, combining the story of the First World War with the local mining history — a history in which global war played a crucial part.
Today, I am looking for audiences and venues to continue sharing and improving my presentation. Want to book a presentation? Contact me and we will set it up!
Benjamin White-Patarino 