Last updated: May 28, 2023
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NAMA Notebook: Memorial Day
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Memorial Day is a busy weekend on the National Mall. It is a special opportunity to honor those who gave their lives for the country. Many of the sites in the park remember those that served. One site remembers the person credited with proclaiming Memorial Day.
Logan Circle
Logan Circle is located about 1.2 miles northeast of the Washington Monument. In the center of the circle is a statue to General John Logan, a politician and Civil War officer who became the head of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization for veterans of the Civil War. While he was serving in that role, Logan issued General Orders #11 in May 1868. This order declared, “The 30th day of May 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”
Today, we remember all those who gave their lives for the country on Memorial Day, not just those who died during the Civil War.
Resources
Learn more about John Logan and the origins of Memorial Day from Ranger Jenny in this Facebook video: Memorial Day at Logan Circle,
and in this article, John Logan: War Hero, Public Servant, Founder of Memorial Day.
Brady-Handy photograph collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Decoration Day
Initially, the holiday was called Decoration Day. For the first Decoration Day on May 30, 1868, Ohio Congressman and Civil War veteran James A. Garfield gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery. In the speech, Garfield explained what the holiday is all about and why it should be commemorated.
Read James A. Garfield's speech here: First Official National Decoration Day
Arlington National Cemetery is across the Potomac River from the National Mall. Visitors can admire the view of Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House from the back side of the Lincoln Memorial.
Memorial Day at the National Mall
There are many ways to explore the war memorials with your students. These sites provide for a multidisciplinary approach, as subjects can be combined to create meaningful connections. English teachers can use picture books, novels, or diaries to encourage reading stories related to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial or the Vietnam War. History teachers can visit the memorials in person or virtually to connect the history lessons with the conflicts memorialized.
Bringing Memorial Day to the Classroom
Here are some ideas for using the National Mall for your Memorial Day lessons:
- Look at pictures of the memorials and discuss the symbolism you find there. How do the different elements in the memorial help us remember?
- Have students design their own memorial, perhaps as an end-of-year project that incorporates multiple subjects. Choose a person or event to memorialize from social studies. Write the text for a brochure or sign for their memorial using English and writing skills the students have learned. Use math to construct a scale model.
Every year, we spend many days in May touring the war memorials with students. It is interesting to see what elements speak to them and what stories lead them to ask questions and want to learn more.
Sometimes it's easier for students to relate to a personal story. Here, Ranger Paul shares a story about his family in honor of Memorial Day: Honoring Service and Sacrifice
Have you used the war memorials on the National Mall in your classroom? Let us know your successful strategies! Stay tuned to future NAMA Notebook articles for more resources about the memorials on the National Mall.
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