Learn about the lives of Tuskegee Airmen, members of the 369th Infantry Infantry Regiment (the “Harlem Hellfighters”), Medal of Honor recipients and more. 

The history of the Cold War is imprinted onto the landscape of Arlington National Cemetery. Learn about the remarkable lives of thsoe who served in, and led, the Cold War—from service members who fought in Korea and Vietnam to key policymakers. 

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.

In this lesson plan, high school students will learn about the 65th Infantry Regiment, or the “Borinqueneers”—the celebrated unit of primarily Puerto Rican service members who fought in the Korean War.

While Cold War events and individuals are memorialized at Arlington and in Washington, D.C., no memorial recognizes the Cold War as a whole. In this lesson, students will analyze what and how we memorialize. They will discuss why no national Cold War memorial exists and design their own memorial.

In these lesssons, high school students can learn about important Cold War events, including armed conflict, nuclear competition, and the space race. Timeline activities are adaptable and can be used as an introduction, a review, or at any time throughout a Cold War lesson/unit.