May, 2016: Introductory Issue #0

Welcome and Happy Memorial Day!

World War I changed everything. Let's change how students think about the War.

The United States World War One Centennial Commission and the National World War I Museum & Memorial have come together with partners, including the Department of Education, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, HISTORY Channel, and the American Battle Monuments Commission, to pool their education resources about World War I into a bi-monthly education eNewsletter and an easy-to-navigate online collection.

Starting officially in June, each issue of the newsletter will focus on a different topic related to the First World War and will include an extensive selection of articles, lessons, teaching guidelines and primary sources that you can freely use, arriving in your inbox on the third Tuesday of every other month. 
 

All content will be vetted by historians and educators, so you can trust in its accuracy and relevancy. Past newsletter issues and resources will also be added to the online collection for your convenience. 

Please help us spread the word about this newsletter; anyone can sign up to receive these emails at theworldwar.org/education.



As a small preview, we have included some resources from this collection below related to Memorial Day. Enjoy and we'll see you again in June!

"There is a touch of sorrow, but there is a touch of reassurance also in a day like this, because we know how the men of America have responded to the call of the cause of liberty, and it fills our minds with a perfect assurance that that response will come again in equal measure, with equal majesty and with a result which will hold the attention of all mankind."


- President Woodrow Wilson,
from his 1917 Memorial Day Speech two months after
the United States joined the fight in World War I

What is Memorial Day?

The United States holiday of Memorial Day honors and remembers those who died serving in the nation's armed forces. Beginning as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, the national holiday is currently observed on the last Monday in May every year.

Education Resources
from the Library of Congress

Read this article from the May 23, 1919 edition of The Stars and Stripes newspaper, made available through the Library of Congress. The Stars and Stripes was published by the United States Army's American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) in France.

The Library of Congress also provides more classroom materials about this newspaper.

 
from the American Battle Monuments Commission

Read about the American Cemetery at the Meuse-Argonne in France and its role in honoring the sacrifice and service of American troops. You can also watch a video about the Cemetery on the American Battle Monuments Commission website.


from HISTORY Channel

Read an article and watch a video from HISTORY about how Memorial Day first began and learn how World War I helped bring the country together in the celebration of this holiday.
 
The United States World War One Centennial Commission and the National World War I Museum and Memorial are dedicated to educating the public about the causes, events and consequences of the conflict and we encourage the use of these resources to better understand the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.

Partners on this project include:
The Pritzker Military Museum and Library is a founding sponsor of the United States World War One Centennial Commission.