Eighteen teachers paid a visit to Sicily-Rome American Cemetery yesterday as part the Understanding Sacrifice: World War II in the Mediterranean education program. The teachers, who have been preparing for this field study for nearly a year,  received a guided visit from cemetery staff.  

As a joint effort between the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), National History Day®, and the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University,  Understanding Sacrifice is a professional development program for teachers that includes in-depth research on a fallen hero, nearly nine months of World War II learning, a field study, and the creation of classroom materials.

During the visit, cemetery staff Thus far, the group has visited Monte Cassino, the Polish National Cemetery at Monte Cassino, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery near Anzio, and the landing beaches at Nettuno. They will also visit Florence American Cemetery, Rhone American Cemetery, and Epinal American Cemetery during the trip. By following the path of American forces in southern Europe during the war, the teachers will  better understand the conflict, and the role the United States played.

As part of this program, each teacher selected an individual who is buried or memorialized within an ABMC cemetery in southern Europe or North Africa. The teachers have researched their fallen hero, and written a profile and eulogy for the person. During this field study, the teachers will present their eulogies at the gravesite. These profiles and eulogies will then provide a personal connection to each lesson plan.

Final classroom materials will be available later this year on ABMCeducation.org.  Applications are currently being accepted for ABMC’s World War II in the Pacific education program.