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Memorial Day Reading List and Story Prompts

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Today we take time to memorialize those who our nation has ​lost in combat. Whether you’re looking to start meaningful ​conversations or want to do a little solo reflection, we have ​some ideas to get you started with our Memorial Day reading ​list and story-prompting questions.

MEMORIAL DAY READING LIST

Follow your instincts toward what’s best for you, but if you’re ​looking for some inspiration, here are some popular reads ​about the military experience, sure to stimulate reflection.

There’s a reason this book is so popular. With its focus on Easy Company of the 101st ​airborne, the book (and the artfully adapted series) weave an immersive narrative from the ​perspective of a handful of incredible people that readers get to know quite well. Note: ​people, not characters. These are true stories of triumphs and losses during the second ​world war. See also: The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose and Masters of the Air by Donald Miller, ​which provide similar focus and were also adapted by Hanks & Spielberg.

It’s hard to tell this book is a work of fiction, as it is steeped in lifelike dialogue and precise ​detail, all inspired by the author’s combat experiences in the Vietnam war. Don’t be fooled if ​you were assigned (and maybe didn’t read) excerpts of this in high school or college. It’s by ​no means adolescent literature and worth revisiting.

For something closer to modern day, this collection of short stories shows a complex range ​of experiences and emotions that soldiers have grappled with from the conflicts in Iraq and ​Afghanistan. While it has some focus on the return to civilian life post-combat, this is not ​exclusively the case, and all stories give insights into military life that provoke thoughtful ​consideration.

If you’re after something more academic and less experiential, there’s certainly something ​to interest you in this collection of essays on the ethics and morality of war. Starting way ​back with treatises from Plato and Aristotle, ranging to 20th century big thinkers such as ​John Rawls and Kofi Annan, this is a thought-provoking anthology for shaping your ​understanding of war. (And if anyone has a recommended 21st century companion to this, ​please let Kat know!)

CONVERSATION & STORY PROMPTS

Loss is such a difficult thing to discuss, so we often struggle to start a conversation when people might ​welcome it, or to phrase a question to not cause offense. Of course, each person is different, and there’s no ​guarantee that a particular question is safe to ask, but here are some that are designed to inspire ​thoughtful conversations and storytelling this Memorial Day.

For those you don’t know well:

  1. Have you lost someone to war? Would you like to tell me a story about ​them?
  2. What branch of military were they in?
  3. What was their specialization? Why do you think that was?
  4. What do you think inspired them to enlist? Why?
  5. For those who lost older relatives: what do you hope you inherited ​from them?
  6. For those who lost younger relatives: what are some of your proudest ​memories of this person?

For those who lost many:

  1. Is there anyone you wish you had more opportunity to talk about?
  2. Who do you find yourself thinking about regularly? Tell me about a time they were a friend to you.
  3. Tell me a story about the person who would have remained your friend for life.
  4. Tell me a story about things you did together outside of combat and training.
  5. Tell me a story about the (smartest, kindest, coolest, funniest, toughest, meanest) person you lost.
  6. Is there a story you want to tell about these people?

A NOTE ABOUT TRAUMA NARRATIVES

As you know, these kinds of stories can be quite painful to share, but the process of sharing them can also be ​quite healing under the right circumstances.


In any situation where you raise traumatic memories, please let the storyteller take the lead. Let them speak ​where they are comfortable, but do not press them for more when they are not. Check in periodically to make ​sure they’re still okay to continue sharing. Suggest breaks when emotions are high, not as punishment for the ​emotion, but to give the storyteller time and space to process how they are feeling. Make sure you invite them to ​pick up where they left off if you initiate a break.


As Memorial Day is just as much about those lost as it is those they left behind, we can think of no better way to ​honor it than to give friends and family an opportunity to share about the ones they’re missing.


If you have corrections or further suggestions, please share!

Thanks for reading.

RUSHLIGHT MEDIA BLOG