If you have never served in the military or been close to a servicemember, Memorial Day might seem like a holiday for generic flag-waing graphics at work; and for road trips, mattress sales, and parades draped in red white and blue over a three-day weekend.
Our culture, in general, is not very good at acknowledging the military experience beyond a pithy “thanks for your service” on Veterans Day in November… And while it’s always a good idea to celebrate a holiday on your social media calendar, perhaps we can do better acknowledging Memorial Day with meaningful artwork instead of a bland, branded graphic.
I am not a veteran myself, it’s true. But I am family to (and have considered myself close with) a few veterans over the years, and we have talked about the civilian-military disconnect. For my people who have served, Memorial Day hits deeper… and across the board, they would like you to know your long holiday weekend came at a cost. Today is a day to honor and remember the brave servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our civilian freedoms.
Because I believe in the power of visuals to convey powerful messages, today I’m sharing a few remarkable public domain art pieces from the National Archives to get you started on a better path. Behind every uniform and name engraved on a white headstone is a person with a story, a family, and a legacy. These artworks are a testament to the very human meaning of Memorial Day, the bonds formed in service the United States, and the long-lasting impact the departed have had on our nation.
Source links are included for each work, at the end of this post.
“All gave some. Some gave all.”
Howard William Osterkamp
United States Army, 1951-1953 (Korea)
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"Pass in Review" by Art Kane. Original artwork courtesy of National Archives Catalog. Public Domain.
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"Memories" by Bobbie Moline-Kramer. Original artwork courtesy of National Archives Catalog. Public Domain.
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"Rescue & Recovery" by Malcolm Murley. Original artwork courtesy of National Archives Catalog. Public Domain.
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"By the Dawns Early Light", artist unknown. Original artwork courtesy of National Archives Catalog. Public Domain.
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"Military Funeral" by B. Keeler. Original artwork courtesy of National Archives Catalog. Public Domain.
Dear reader, I strongly encourage you to skip the stock art and explore the vast treasure trove also known as the National Archives Catalog (in particular, the Defense Visual Information Center) for more military-themed art to bring depth and humanity to your tributes.
Featured Image Source: “Military Funeral” by B. Keller.
On the web:
- “Pass In Review” by Art Kane, 1988
- “Memories” by Bobbie Moline-Kramer, 1989
- “Rescue & Recovery” by Malcolm Murley, 1982
- “By the Dawns Early Light“, 1942-1945
- “Military Funeral” by B. Keller, 1995