Primary Source Lessons:
American Veterans

American Veterans

Sr. Philip Neri Crawford
Sacred Heart-Griffen High School; Springfield, IL

Time:

One Week

Introduction:

Preliminary Discussion Questions:

• What holiday pays tribute to our veterans?
• Why do we honor these men and women?
• How do we honor them?
  • As a nation?
  • In local communities?
  • As private citizens?

Background:

Explain the origin of Armistice Day, namely the commemoration of the day that Germany signed the terms of surrender at the end of World War I: the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

In 1954 President Eisenhower renamed the holiday Veterans Day to include those Americans who had served in World War II and the Korean War.

Objectives:

Students will be able to

Access information from the Library of Congress.

Download stories of veterans whose actions in time of war personify the values of courage, patriotism and community.

Hear personal interviews of veterans.

Explain the advantage of primary sources such as the personal interviews and documents associated with individual veterans.

To write an essay expressing their feelings about one veteran they have learned about who exhibited courage, patriotism and spirit of community.

Illinois Learning Standards:

State Goal 16: Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States, and other nations.

16.B.1b (US) Explain why individuals, groups, issues and events are celebrated with local, state or national holidays or days of recognition (e.g., Lincoln's Birthday, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Pulaski Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving.)

Procedure:

Activity One:

• Introduce student to the Library of Congress via www.loc.gov
• Click on Veterans History.
• Spend time exploring.

Activity Two:

• Return to Library of Congress
• Click on Veterans.
• Click on Experiencing War
• View Previous Releases: Courage, Patriotism, and Community.
• Spend time perusing entries.
• Select choice entries and listen to audio interviews.
  • Rhona Marie Knox Prescott
  • Isabelle Cook

Activity Three:

• Return to Library of Congress
• Scroll down to topic Courage, Patriotism, and Community.
• Choose one veteran to research in detail and take notes on entries.
• Write a brief essay on the subject chosen.

Activity Four:

• Students will read their essays to the class.
• Students will share their ideas concerning the values exemplified-Courage, Patriotism, and Community.

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