Reflections on War and Service

How Americans remember war and military service is shaped by two narratives. The first story is about duty and honor that memorialize war; the second story includes those intensely personal experiences of Veterans and how war is remembered. War memorials, like those found here in Minnesota on the State Capitol Mall and those on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., serve as visual resources for the public to reflect on how war is memorialized and remembered. Reflections on War and Service fills in the missing stories (those absent narratives) of Veterans, service members, and military families who remember war. This educator guide is designed around the stories of war, service, and memorials that are experienced on a class field trip to five specific war memorials on the Minnesota State Capitol grounds.