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The Importance of Memorials
Memorials are an important piece to every country and
culture. They allow people to remember and
honor those who were important to us.
For example, such memorials as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam
Veterans’ Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans’ Memorial were created for the
purpose of commemorating and honoring the heroes and great leaders that lost
their lives. It is because of memorials
that we can respect and remember the deceased.
War memorials, specifically, are extremely important to remember because
of their abilities to look toward the future while still reflecting on the past
and can be crucial to the younger generations in recognizing and realizing the
sacrifices and tribulations made by those who are no longer here.
One thing we must
remember is that death is a natural part of life, even though nobody wants to
witness it. It is only human to grieve
and mourn for the loss of your loved one, but you must honor their life
properly. The word “memorial” derives
stems from the Latin word “memos” which means mindful, thus meaning the memories that you shared with that person will never be forgotten or lost. Some memorials may be designed for shock, reassessment,
or contemplation that visitors must come to terms with reality with. Memorials are sometimes put in the public for everyone to see so they can reflect. "Sometimes a war memorial was put in the middle of a principal thoroughfare, or at an important junction of streets, or in a space in a space" (Whittick 44).
Not all memorials are created following the
events they are related to. For example,
the Vietnam War Memorial was created decades after the war, which comes to show
that time must pass before society is finally ready to confront what occurred during
those events, when pain and grief are still so prevalent.
I love when you stated "War memorials, specifically, are extremely important to remember because of their abilities to look toward the future while still reflecting on the past...". This sentence really adds a deep connection between the living and the dead and even more so for those who did not experience the war themselves. Students study about the wars their whole lives but can't come across a connection to it's country. By visiting memorials it provides an opportunity to reflect on the nation's past and how effected the present. The presence of a memorial is central for the countries history and gives honor to those who put their lives out for their country.
ReplyDeleteI like how you went into detail about the latin origins of words. By doing that you can add a next level of depth to your essay by adding more meaning to the words you're examining. I also like how you talked about the remembrance involved with memorials, especially with the people involved. Memories always hold weight in our minds and they can shape us as people, and it can be very moving when you get confronted with a physical reminder of what you experienced.
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