Earlier in the semester, I had posed a plethora of follow-up questions, regarding the memorial. Who comes to this memorial? How do people interpret the memorial? Is it a sacred space? What actions, movements, or rituals do people perform in order to interact with the memorial? What do people typically wear? What types of emotional responses are expressed? Through answering all of these questions, I would be able to answer my primary inquiry: how do society and people react to or interpret traumatic events in their histories? While I am confident I have answered these questions, some details regarding the nature of final question need further clarification and correction.
First, I realized after completing my research that the “their” in the question, was originally limited to Americans and American history, which is problematic because of the volume of international guests the memorial receives. I had assumed that the majority of visitors would be American, participating in the same American symbolic universe and sharing common understandings about nationalism and American mythology, since the event was a defining moment as an American people. Nevertheless, many of the guests are actually international. Tina, the tour guide informant, revealed to me that around forty to fifty percent
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This allowed me to be inconspicuous and appear as a normal visitor at the memorial. In regards to observations and photography, my strategy was simple. I circulated around the North and South Pools in a figure eight fashion, taking photos and videos of people and other non-human actors and directly speaking into a microphone about what I was seeing and feeling. This mobility allowed me to see more interactions and activities and provided a fuller contextualization of the scene instead of classic handwritten
Hurricane Katrina was a devastating storm that destroyed the lives of many New Orleanians. A storm that caused the people to be in a bad predicament. In the reading, “The Deadly Choices at Memorial” by Sheri Fink, is a story about events that are shadowed and never acknowledged until introduced. In other words, many of the stories that followed the storm were about the houses that were destroyed, the complex evacuation process, animals that were lost, or even the fridges that were destroyed but uplifting notes were left on it, but never the complicity of the hospitals and hospital staff that monitored the injured people.The story describes the scenery of the hospital. Many of the workers are tired and overworked due to power shortages and
I felt this morbid and realistic presence of the soldiers and for a mere second felt the gloom and menace of the war they were in. I walked around the site to gather more information on what the memorial was dedicated to. I walked past the mural wall and as I did, I paid particular attention to the various images of people and equipment on the wall. All of the facial expressions of the people on the wall gave the memorial a very real presence to it. I continued walking down the granite walk
...Veterans Memorial is not primary focus. Louis Torres points out Fredrick's Hart's sculptor "Three Soldiers" and Glenna Goodacre's "Vietnam Women's Memorial" as significant works of art. The articles shows the unjust and tainted opinion of the New York Times author, Daniel Orkrent's commentary. This argument was one primary ideas to contrast the positive and negative impact of the memorial.
The memorial grew out of a need to heal the nation's wounds as America struggled to reconcile different moral and political points of view. In fact, the memorial was conceived and designed to make no political statement whatsoever about the war. The Memorial is a place where everyone, regardless of opinion, can come together and remember and honor those who served. By doing so, the memorial has paved the way towards reconciliation and healing, a process that continues today.
I would also make the focus “why are these men’s’ sacrifices important today?” I’d speak to a number of soldiers at Fort Benning and ask how they were inspired, also I would talk to historians about why these men were so groundbreaking for their time. The Master of Ceremonies I would speak to about his role and why it was an honor. If decedents were there I would speak to them about their hopes for their ancestor’s legacy and what the memorial means to them. People would care because this is a military area, as well as a diverse area. This monument is a tribute to that legacy. I could live stream the whole event of Facebook Live and tweet pictures and blurbs from the speakers.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has struck my interest for the past few years. I have always been interested in historical events that impacted many lives. The Holocaust, the Berlin Wall, and World War I and II have always been something I take very seriously and I am very interested in learning about America’s history. The backstory behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is fascinating and after researching it I learned new things that made me more motivated to write this essay in hopes that I get the honor of laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If I am chosen to take part in the wreath laying ceremony it would mean so much to me because laying a wreath is a very symbolic ritual and I believe it shows how much people care about all the soldiers who served in World War I.
About 70 years ago on January 29th, a terrible commotion took place off Guadalcanal. Those involved in the explosion are memorialized in Arlington National Cemetery. The U.S.S. Serpens memorial is an ideal wreath laying choice for McGee Middle School’s eighth graders, as it has significantly changed the history of America.
The factors a group or agency should consider when memorializing an event or person and in creating a monument are being absolutely sure that this person or event is worthy enough of being recognized and made into a monument. They should also consider if the monument will cause any trouble where it is placed and also the majority of the communities thoughts and feelings on the monument that’ll be placed.
Collins, Charles O., and Charles D. Rhine. "Roadside Memorials." Omega: Journal Of Death & Dying 47.3 (2003): 221-244.Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
Why do sentinels guard the tomb 24/7? Why is the tomb so sacred to America? There is no specific way to answer all these questions that so many American’s ponder, but there are many possibilities to consider. The tomb of the Unknowns has a special place in many American’s hearts. Since the remains in the tomb are unidentified many mothers, fathers, wives, and other family members feel a strong connection with the tomb. The families that lost soldiers that never returned after these wars connected with the tomb because they felt that the tomb may contain their sons, husbands, or brothers. What if you were somehow related to one of the four soldiers in the tomb? John Eisenhower wrote a newspaper article about the significance of the tomb. In his article he states, “Its significance is staggering going to the very core of how democracy defends itself in a perilous world.” This quote reveals that the tomb represents America’s fight for democracy in this dangerous world. After every war America remains a democracy even when the world around may not agree. Eisenhower thought this monument was different from any other because it honors soldiers. Most monuments honor men that are high up in the military, but this one honors those who are simply the soldiers. The soldiers in the tomb signify all the other soldiers that have lost their lives at war. The tomb of the unknown soldier is found in many other countries
It may mark the kickoff to summer, but Memorial Day is truly a day for honoring those who sacrificed their lives while defending the United States and its values. It’s a day to build awareness about the country’s freedom and the significant price for this freedom. Every year soldiers in addition to their families have to pay that price, which is why it was declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971.
Memorial Day to me means to be grateful for the things that I have thanks to all of the men and women who risk their lives every day. It is a day to thank all of the veterans who are with us but also the ones that have passed away. To me it is a day to say a prayer in thanks to the Veterans that have done so much for our country. It is a day in which I think about what I can do to give back for all of the sacrifices that not only the Veterans but also their families have endured.
Americans have often used art to symbolize the relationship between themselves and their history. Therefore, art is used to honor and remember someone or an event where people died, through a memorial. As an example, The National World War II Memorial is a memorial to honor and remember the people who served in World War II. The success or failure of a memorial depends on how well it represents the image that people have of a certain person or event. Especially in America because they find the construction of a national monument so controversial that no memorial has been erected in the National Mall without a discussion. The National World War II Memorial on the National Mall was a poor addition; its location diminishes the formerly open space between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, its design is vague, and it is a poor choice even when compared with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A very good start.
I have seen and been to a few monuments in my life. The one that’s sticks out in my mind the most is my visit to the World Trade Center after the first bombing. I remember the first couple of floors were being worked on, and you couldn’t really walk pass the building. Still, it was a magnificent site to see. I must have looked like a tourist because my eyes were constantly focus on all the huge skyscrapers that surrounded me.
To say that Blake and Donne do not write uplifting poetry is a great injustice to their works. Although some of their poems discuss themes of depressing nature, on a wider scale both Blake and Donne write poetry which is not only uplifting but also inspiring and extremely worthwhile to read.