On October 2nd, 1918, at the height of the terrible Meuse-Argonne Offensive, a former stockbroker named Charles Whittlesey led his men “over the top” and into the teeth of determined German opposition.  By the next morning, he and his men were surrounded, subjected to constant assault and artillery fire (some of it coming from the American lines to their rear).  What followed was one of the great tales of endurance of World War One, involving not just four Medal of Honor winners, but also the most famous pigeon in American history. Aside from the gripping nature of the story of Whittlesey’s leadership in a time of crisis, the Lost Battalion’s ordeal is worth discussing because it raises two important questions of enduring significance: What qualities should we value in the people who rise to the top of the military’s command structure, and what criteria should we use in deciding what persons and events ought to be commemorated with public monuments?  We will delve into these questions–and more–as Professor Daniel Breen presents the story of The Lost Battalion. This program is free and open to the public. No pre-registration needed. Provided by the CAST Senior Center, our Virtual Programs provide an endless variety of interesting subjects. Our Virtual Programs take us across the country, experiencing and learning about places and people which we wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to experience. Scheduled every Tuesday afternoon, unless noted, at 1pm at the CAST Senior Center, our Virtual Programs are free and open to the public. There are no membership dues and everyone is welcome to attend. Programming is provided by CuriousityU.com and other online providers. Check out our virtual program schedule every month and join us! We look forward to seeing you!