Memorial Day Speech Assignment
Final Typed Essay Due: Friday, May 8
THE HOLIDAY
Memorial Day is an official holiday in most of the United States, celebrated on the last Monday of May. It is also
known as Decoration Day because after the Civil War, the leader of the Grand Army of the Republic declared it "a day to
decorate with flowers the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion." After World
War I, Memorial Day was set aside to honor the dead of all American wars. (Many people also use the occasion to
honor any deceased friends or relatives, whether military or civilian.)
LOCAL OBSERVANCES
Both Haddam and Killingworth honor those people from our towns who died in our nation's wars. This is done
with a parade, musical tributes, prayer, a roll call of the dead, and speeches. At the Haddam parade, there is a speech by a
Haddam-Killingworth Middle School eighth grader; the reader is the chosen winner of a contest sponsored by the Parade
Committee. The finalists deliver their speeches and are judged at a school assembly.
THE WRITING CONTEST
You, the eighth-grade students at HKMS, are asked to write an essay/ speech on the topic "What Memorial
Day Means to Me." We encourage you to discuss with your families, before you begin to write, the participation of your
relatives, friends, and acquaintances in our nation's armed services. You may reflect on your personal and family
traditions related to Memorial Day. As students of American history, you should also reflect on the values of our nation,
the privileges and rights which Americans enjoy, and the sacrifices made by those willing to risk their lives in service to
this country. Reflect upon your visits to the war memorials in Washington, D.C. Look over your note-taking sheet to
recall ideas, impressions, and feelings you experienced there. Your awareness of current events may add to your point of
view. Draw from everything you have heard, seen, or read which is pertinent to this topic.
WRITING A SPEECH
Memorial Day is a very patriotic occasion. A patriotic speech should demonstrate love of country. In your
speech, you should express appreciation for those who have given their lives in armed service for our country, for
us. A good speech is clear and easy to understand when heard. A good speech has a theme and refers to it repeatedly. The
speaker should identify an experience or a value shared with the audience. In this case, the target audience is your
school community, the Parade Committee judges (veterans of the American armed forces) and the townspeople
who attend the Memorial Day parade to pay their respects. A good speech uses powerful language and stirring
images. Repetition of a main point or a memorable key word or phrase is often effective.
Remember your topic. Remember your audience. Remember your purpose. Remember the dead
.
SCHEDULE FOR 2015:
Fri, May 1
Students receive assignment: What Memorial Day Means to Me.
Fri., May 8
Wed. May 13
Fri. May 15
Mon., May 18
Fri., May 22
Mon., May 25
Final speech/essays are due to LA teacher.
Five best speeches from each team are chosen for review by other teachers.
Grade level reviews and narrows the finalists to 5 essays.
Parents are notified via Guidance.
Memorial Day assembly (Five finalists per grade level read work; winner chosen.)
Memorial Day parades (HKMS essay winner reads speech in Haddam. Grade 7 poet reads poem in
Killingworth.)