Two Powerful D.C. Memorials for Students: FDR and Iwo Jima
It’s an exciting era in American History. We have just elected our first African-American president, and the charge of hope that ignited in our hearts the night of his election has yet to fizzle. It represents a monumental shift in what has been almost two centuries of our struggle to truly live as though “all men were created equal.” Classrooms everywhere must be buzzing with all that this could mean.
One reason Washington D.C. is so perfect for educational tours, is because it is full of monuments and memorials to moments just like these. America has had its share of heroes, of trouble and strife, of violent anger and passionate hopes. Pivotal moments in our history encompass these.
One man had to lead our country through two of the most difficult seasons in our history, one following the other. He was one of our most beloved presidents, and the memorial dedicated to him is a beautiful and moving tribute to Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his four terms in office.
Each room of the memorial is dedicated to a different term Roosevelt served three and died during the fourth. Inside are statues of the famous president in common poses surrounded by his own moving and powerful words. The Four Freedoms are laid out in one room. Elsewhere students can read some of his beautiful words to the country delivered through his trademark fireside chats. Waterfalls are placed throughout to offer a sense of reflection and of life continuing.
President Roosevelt was our commander in chief through the Great Depression and World War II. He somehow secured the trust of his countrymen in those years. They believed him capable of leading them through such turmoil and voted for this belief four times in succession. This memorial is a tribute to this man who won the hearts of Americans over and over again through their most difficult times. Memorials like these are what make Washington D.C. educational tours the most popular destination for students every year.
Our involvement in World War II had its own poignant moment sealed forever in history by a photograph that is now another beautiful D.C. memorial. It is officially called the United States Marine Corps War Memorial. Many refer to it as Iwo Jima as five marines and one member of the navy worked together to raise a US flag on that pivotal base. It signified a turning point in the history of the War and the beginning of its end.
There is so much for students to discover in washington d.c. about their country its history, its powerful moments and regrettable ones, as well as its heroes and leaders. There are museums, monuments, and memorials dedicated to all of these and more. Student travel is the perfect way to awaken students to their world.
Through memorials like the one dedicated to FDR, historical fact is sealed in their minds as well as the spirit and passion behind the person memorialized. With the Marine Corps memorial and other memorials devoted to wars, students understand far more about the price of freedom and the making of heroes than they ever did before. This is because the monuments and memorials in D.C. are far more than the stone, bronze, and mortar used to create them. They are even more than the events to which they are dedicated. They are also a tribute to the men and women who worked together to bring them into existence and memorialize our country’s defining moments. They capture the American spirit in all its strength and glory.
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