Memorial Day

# Examine the History Behind Memorial Day **Honoring the service and sacrifice of U.S. Military Personnel** Commemorate the lives of fallen U.S. military personnel in your classroom with this collection of resources. This playlist celebrates the efforts of countless American citizens who fought for – and continue to fight for – freedom, exploring how their sacrifices are remembered on Memorial Day, otherwise known as Decoration Day. **Note to Teachers:** Content may be sensitive for some students as it covers topics such as warfare, so user discretion is advised. ## Key Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain why Memorial Day remains significant today 2. Describe the roles and sacrifices of people from a range of communities in U.S. military history 3. Reflect on the traditions associated with Memorial Day across the U.S. and evaluate their importance ## How to Use This Playlist: This playlist includes a range of resources to deepen your students' understanding of Memorial Day and the diversity of the people it honors. Share the contributions of those who have died while serving in the U.S. military and visit the memorial sites where their memory is honored. Here are some suggestions on how to use the resources: ***Contributions of U.S. Military Explorable Scenes*** - Select one of these explorable scenes to focus on and discuss the contributions of many American citizens who fought alongside other nations in various wars. After exploring the selected scene, reflect on the experience by asking students the following questions: 1. What was the war about, and why did America get involved? 2. What roles and responsibilities did the U.S. personnel have? 3. How were their efforts in service to the U.S.? 4. Do students know anybody who lived or fought during that war? What stories have they heard about it? - [WW1: Life in the Trenches](https://edvr.se/3aj-NTr-CBU/av-scene-ww1-life-in-the-trenches) - [Pearl Harbor](https://edvr.se/M25-hIj-Yln/pearl-harbour-attack) - [D-Day Landing](https://edvr.se/nYM-xHt-znr/d-day-landing) - [The Korean War](https://edvr.se/3aj-NTr-CBU/the-korean-war) - [The Vietnam War](https://edvr.se/3aj-NTr-CBU/the-vietnam-war) ***American Battlefield Civil War 360° Videos*** - Walk in the boots of Civil War soldiers in this immersive 360° reenactment video and experience the harsh realities of life on the front line in 1864. - Civil War 1864 Full Experience ***Gettysburg Address Video*** - Visit the location of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. This video is a narrated 360° experience presented in English. - Gettysburg Address ***National Memorials 360° Images*** - Use these 360° images to discuss how we honor the memory of those who have died in service. Take a moment with your students to reflect on the importance of commemoration and the national traditions associated with Memorial Day. You can use these images to spark a discussion on how your local community honors and remembers those who have served. - Memorial Day Parade in Doylestown, Pennsylvania - Pe Ell Veterans Memorial - Veterans Memorial Park Battlefield Memorial Huntsville, Alabama, USA - Korean War Memorial at Night - Fountain at WWII Memorial ***Freedom is not Free Discussion 360° Image*** - Use this 360° image of the “Freedom is not Free” inscription at the Korean War Veterans Memorial to reflect on the quote: *“Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”* 1. What does this sacrifice mean, and why is it important to remember? - Freedom is not Free