During World War I, the American Expeditionary Forces were commanded by Gen. John Pershing, a former University of Nebraska instructor who had ongoing ties to Lincoln.
It’s a common practice to rally support for a current war by invoking heroes of previous wars. Gen. Pershing famous said, “Lafayette, we are coming!” in reference to the French military officer who volunteered for the Continental Army and served admirably under General Washington. The Nebraska State Historical Society has several examples of Revolutionary War imagery in World War I materials.
This is the cover art for sheet music for the 1918 song, “Just Like Washington Crossed the Delaware, General Pershing Will Cross the Rhine.” (Which does not seem like a catchy tune at all!):
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Print, “Pershing at the Tomb of Lafayette,” 1917:
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The World War I poster below was collected by NSHS Superintendent Addison Sheldon when he visited France at the close of the war. Tadeusz Kościuszko and Casimir Pulaski were Poles who came to America to volunteer for the Revolution. Kościuszko was a military engineer (and later a Polish national hero) and Pulaski was a military commander known as “The Father of American cavalry.” This Polish-language poster asks readers to support the troops by eating less meat and sugar:
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—David L. Bristow
(Posted 12/23/2025)
