World War I Postcard

1918

The flag was a symbol of service and patriotism for many veterans.

For many soldiers during the First World War, the flag was a proud representation of military service and citizenship.

Over 380,000 African Americans served in World War I, and many volunteered to represent the nation abroad. In a 1980 oral history, WWI veteran Robert Sweeney said that his service abroad was “the only time that I was a full-fledged American citizen because they treated the Black soldiers just like they treated the white soldiers.”