"Indescribable Horror": When Eisenhower Witnessed the Holocaust How do we serve as responsible witnesses to history? How do we document the truth for posterity? In this activity, students will learn about Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s efforts to document the Holocaust in 1945 and reflect on lessons they can learn from this history.
Walking Tour: African American Military Heroes Learn about the lives of Tuskegee Airmen, members of the 369th Infantry Infantry Regiment (the “Harlem Hellfighters”), Medal of Honor recipients and more. Throughout U.S. history, African Americans have fought bravely for the United States and distinguished themselves in combat. This walking tour includes gravesites and memorials that honor the service of these heroic individuals. Length: 5 miles Starting point: Section 40 (0.4 miles from Welcome Center) Because this walking tour is quite long, we recommend completing it in smaller sections. Read More
Walking Tours: World War II These six walking tours share some of the diverse experiences and individual stories of those who fought abroad or worked on the home front during World War II. The main walking tour includes stops across the entire cemetery, while the four cluster tours only include stops in one of the four main sections of the cemetery. The school tour is an abridged version of the main tour.
Walking Tour: Women's Military Service Women have played key roles in supporting the U.S. military, formally or informally, since the Revolutionary War. At ANC, gravesites and memorials mark numerous milestones in the history of women’s military service. As you explore the cemetery, consider how the stories of women in the military can deepen your understanding of well-known conflicts and societal progress, and think about how many more stories could still be told. Distance: ~4 miles. Shorten your walk by taking the tram: click here for information. Exertion level: High Starting point: Section 35 (.7 miles from Welcome Center) Read More
Lesson Plan: Women on the Homefront In this lesson, students will examine primary sources related to the experiences of two women who served on the homefront during World War II, both buried at Arlington National Cemetery. They will also learn about the broader meanings of service and sacrifice, both in the military and on the homefront.
Lesson Plan: Tuskegee Airmen, World War II The Tuskegee Airmen have long been honored for their skills, valor and distinguished service despite facing segregation and discrimination. From 1941 to 1946, nearly 1,000 African American military pilots completed their training in Tuskegee, Alabama. More than 350 of them served overseas during World War II; 84 lost their lives. Students learn about the Tuskegee Airmen and explore their significance in historical and cultural context. Resources include a PowerPoint slide deck and handout. One class period, 15-20 minutes total Read More
Lesson Plan: 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, World War II The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, popularly known as the “Six Triple Eight,” was a segregated Black unit of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II —.and the only non-medical Black women’s unit to serve overseas. Students learn about this important unit and explore its significance in historical context.
Lesson Plan: 369th Infantry Regiment The 369th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the “Harlem Rattlers” and “Harlem Hellfighters,” had one of the most distinguished records of any unit in the history of the United States Army. The 369th saw extensive combat in both World War I and World War II. Most of the men in the regiment were African American, although it also included Puerto Ricans. Students learn about the 369th Infantry Regiment and explore its significance in historical and cultural context. Resources include a PowerPoint slide deck and handout. One class period, 15-20 minutes total Read More
Lesson Plan: “Buffalo Soldiers” In 1866, Congress established the U.S. Army’s all-Black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments, later known as the “Buffalo Soldiers,” to serve on the western frontier. Students learn about the Buffalo Soldiers and explore their significance in historical and cultural context. Resources include a PowerPoint slide deck and handout. One class period, 15-20 minutes total Read More
Recommended Reading: World War II Perspectives World War II affected the lives of every American. The firsthand accounts compiled here ― all from individuals buried at Arlington National Cemetery ― include stories of love and loss, hardship and perseverance, and horror and joy. Drawn from oral histories, interviews and personal writings, they provide small slices of the larger story of the United States’ experience in World War II.
Lesson Plan: It's Your War, Too The scope and scale of World War II required unprecedented numbers of personnel on the battlefield, in warfighting industries, and in support capacities. This lesson examines how the need to “free a man to fight” opened many opportunities for women to serve in the U.S. military—and laid the groundwork for women to have a permanent place in the armed forces.
Lesson Plan: Code Talkers American Indians served in important military intelligence roles during World War I and World War II, using their native languages to transmit secret military messages on the battlefield. Their efforts proved crucial to U.S. military success. In this lesson, students learn about the Code Talkers and the significance of this celebrated group of American Indian soldiers in historical and cultural context. One class period (30 minutes)
Lesson Plan: Telling the Story of World War II In this lesson, students will use primary and secondary sources that illuminate the experiences of individuals buried at Arlington National Cemetery to examine different perspectives on World War II.
Lesson Plan: Firsthand History Students will analyze the purpose of primary sources before being introduced to Eddie Willner, a survivor of the Holocaust who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. They will then listen to a portion of an oral history interview he gave to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). While listening, students will answer questions about the interview and the importance of primary sources. Students do not need to already be familiar with World War II or the Holocaust in order to participate in this lesson. One or two class periods, 90 minutes total Read More
Walking Tour: African American Trailblazers This walking tour celebrates the achievements of African American men and women in the U.S. military who made historic contributions to American society Length: 5 miles Starting point: Section 33 (0.5 miles from Welcome Center) Because this walking tour is quite long, we recommend completing it in smaller sections. Read More