VVMF Education Guide

FOUNDERS OF THE WALL

ECHOES FROM THE WALL

War will always have impacts on society and culture. Within the realm of popular culture, music of the Vietnam era reflected a range of public opinion about military conflict. IN THE CLASSROOM Songs from Vietnam and Today DISCUSSION GUIDE This lesson plan will involve a review of popular music of the Vietnam era, as well as Begin by asking students to create list of songs that deal with the subject matter of war and peace, or are more broadly either highly patriotic, or highly more recent popular music that depict deal critical of problems in the nation. Which of the list are their favorites, and why? How Does Music with the subject matter of war and peace. Students will examine the perspectives of In the early days of the war, songs like Sgt. Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of the Green Berets” received extensive radio play—“Ballad of the Green Berets” reached #1 on Reflect Perspectives these songs and how the range of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. Listen to the song as it plays through slides 1-3, and ask perspectives was reflected in broader students to answer the song analysis questions included in the pre-visit activity above. Sgt. on War? society during and following the war. Barry Sadler served in Vietnam and wrote the song to celebrate the Green Beret Special Forces. This song has a clear perspective that celebrates the contributions of soldiers, yet it does not explicitly discuss political concerns or more broadly interpret the war. (click here for lyrics)

Three years before the Ballad of the Green Berets topped the charts in 1966, Peter, Paul and Mary’s cover of “Blowin’ in the Wind” topped the Billboard charts, reaching #2 in 1963. The song, originally written by Bob Dylan in 1962, has come to be identified as perhaps the quintessential anthem for peace because of its widespread adaptation by the public to express disapproval of the Vietnam War. Ask students to listen to the song as it plays in slides 4-5, answering the song analysis questions. This song was

In the years following the Vietnam War, there were also songs that interpreted the post-war experience—specifically the negative aspects of the post-war experience—that became popular. In 1982, the same year that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated, The Charlie Daniels Band released a song titled “Still in Saigon,” written from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran unsure of his place in the world after his return from war. Ask students to listen closely to the lyrics as the song plays in slides 8-9. What issues are mentioned that returning veterans may have to face? (click here for lyrics) The Vietnam era set a precedent for music as a public space to reflect perspectives on war, with critical perspectives being acceptable and potentially even popular. With the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf in 1990, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” though originally released in 1984, gained prominence as a patriotic song How Does Music Reflect Perspectives on War? ) click here for lyrics for here click That civic dialogue dialogue civic That ( VVMF ECHOES FROM THE WALL DISCUSSION GUIDE | 4 ) click here for lyrics for here click that can be traced through popular music has includedreflections on the post-war experience of remembering the fallen at The Wall. In Bruce 2014, Springsteen released a song titled “The Wall” which tells the story of visiting the Vietnam Memorial to reconnect with a friend. The song was written after Springsteen visited the Vietnam Memorial and decided to write a song in honor of his friends and fellow musicians Walter Cichon and Bart Haynes who died in the Ask war. students to listen to the song as it plays in slide answering 21, the questions. analysis song war differ (or not differ) from a song like Edwin Starr’s “War?” Why do you think there is a more explicit separation of war and warrior in the songs of more recent times? ( Since the VietnamSince era, music a reflect to used been has a war, perspectives on of range tradition which continues into century. 21st the Cover: Peter, Paul & Mary’s record, Blowin’ in the Wind Top: On the ground in Vietnam Bottom: Protests against the war in Vietnam click topped the the topped in search of that deal with the “Goodbye Mama, I’m Off to Yokohama” Americans’ approval for the war steadily songs like Sgt. Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of the )

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charts in 1966, Peter, Paul and Mary’s cover of “Blowin’ in the Wind” topped the Billboard charts, reaching in 1963. #2 The song, originally written by Bob Dylan in 1962, has come to be identified as perhaps the quintessential anthem for peace because of its widespread adaptation by the public to express disapproval of the Vietnam Ask War. studentsto listen to the song as it plays in slides 4-5, answering the song analysis questions. This song was Green Berets” received extensive radio play—“Ballad of the Green Berets” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. Listen to the song as it plays through slides and ask 1-3, students to answer the song analysis questions included in the pre-visit activity above. Sgt. Barry Sadler served in Vietnam and wrote the song to celebrate the Green Beret Special Forces. This song has a clearperspective that celebrates the contributions of soldiers, yet it does not explicitly discuss political concerns or more broadly interpret the (click war. here subject matter of war and peace, or are more broadly either highly patriotic, or highly critical of problems in the nation. Which of the list are their favorites, and why? for lyrics for Green Berets the of Ballad the before years Three In the early days of the war, war, the of days early the In Begin by asking students to create list of songs songs of list create to students asking by Begin Songs and Part Wars Part and Songs songs era II War World the to Listen by Powell Teddy and his Orchestra and (1942) “Arms for the Love of America” composed by Irving Ask students Berlin (1941). to listen closely to the lyrics and answer the following song analysis questions for each song, giving them only the context information of the year it was released: and composed • What were the major events of the year in the US at the time? • Who do you think the intended audience of the song is? • What is youremotional reaction to the song? What do you like or dislike about it? • In one sentence, what would you identify as the central message of the song? • How do the musical elements contribute to the message of the song? • If you had to title the song, what would you title it?

decreased, with CNN polls showing over 60% public disapproval of the war by 2006. That same year, Pearl Jam released “World Wide Suicide,” a song written by the group’s lead singer Eddie Vedder about Pat Tillman, a professional football player who turned down a contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the US Army. Tillman served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his story became popular with the public after his death in 2004. The song, which reached on the #41 Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2006 and #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts, is critical of the while war, recognizing the service of soldiers like Tillman. Ask students to listen to the song as it plays in slides answering 19-20, the song analysis questions. How does this song’s perspective on As the war in Iraq progressed, progressed, Iraq in As war the Two years later in March 2003, the US invaded Iraq Iraq invaded US the 2003, March in later years Two listen to the song as it plays answering in slides 15-16, the song analysis questions. ( here for lyrics nuclear weapons, in what marked the beginning of the eight year war in Iraq. Ask students to listen closely Keith’s to Toby 2003 song “American Soldier” as it plays through slides How does this song17-18. compare with Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA?”Do you think it is possible to identify an overall expression of approval or disapproval for war in this song?

IN THE CLASSROOM Songs from Vietnam and Today and Vietnam from Songs PRE-VISIT ACTIVITY PRE-VISIT

classroom for use in the Presentation Presentation Powerpoint Accompanying Download the was Bette Midler’s ) a global terrorist click here for lyrics for here click ) click here for lyrics for here click ( “From a Distance,” reaching on #2 Billboard’s Hot Ask 100 in 1991. students to listen to the song as answering it plays in slides the 12-13, song analysis questions. The song, originally written by Julie Gold in 1985, is again not explicitly centering on war as a subject, though it was adopted by the public as both an expression for peace and longing for the return of troops. Even more popular than “God Bless the USA” USA” the Bless “God than popular more Even 2001, 11, On September of support for troops serving in the Gulf Though War. the song was not written in the context of it war, was readapted by the public in order to voice support in a time of Ask war. students to listen to the song as it answering plays in slides the 10-11, song analysis questions. Do you think it is possible to identify an overall expression of approval or disapproval for war in this song? ( group known as Al-Qaida coordinated a series of attacks on the US which left over 3000 civilians dead at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in the Washington, DC area, and at a plane crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Playsmall a portion of the live video coverage included from 9/11 on slide 14. Following the attacks, “Only Time,” a song by Irish singer Enya that had been released the previous year in 2000, quickly rose to on #10 the Billboard Hot 100 charts as Americans adopted the song’s mournful tone and message for the current tragedy. Ask students to ) click here for lyrics for here click there were also songs that ) click here for lyrics for here click ) the public grew increasingly interpreted the post-war experience—specifically the negative aspects of the post-war experience—that became popular. In 1982, the same year that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated, The Charlie Daniels Band released a song titled “Still in Saigon,” written from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran unsure of his place in the world after his return from Ask war. students to listen closely to the lyrics as the song plays in slides 8-9. What issues are mentioned that returning veterans may have to face? ( not explicitly written to voice a perspective on the Vietnam How War. does it compare with “Ballad of the Green Berets?” lyrics for here (click war the as later, years A few progressed, War, Vietnam the following years the In space a public as music for set a precedent era Vietnam The to reflect perspectives on with war, critical perspectives being acceptable and potentially even popular. With the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf in 1990, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” though originally released in 1984, gained prominence as a patriotic song disillusioned with the with war, disapproval ratings reaching 64% That in 1970. same year, Edwin Starr’s performance of the Temptations’ song “War (What Is It Good For)” topped the Billboard charts Ask at #1. students to listen to the song as it plays answering in slides the 6-7, song analysis questions. How does a song like “War” compare with a song like “Arms for the Love of America” (from the pre-visit activity)? ( IN THE CLASSROOM Songs from Vietnam and Today Begin by asking students to create list of songs that deal with the subject matter of war and peace, or are more broadly either highly patriotic, or highly critical of problems in the nation. Which of the list are their favorites, and why?

In the early days of the war, songs like Sgt. Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of the Green Berets” received extensive radio play—“Ballad of the Green Berets” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. Listen to the song as it plays through slides 1-3, and ask students to answer the song analysis questions included in the pre-visit activity above. Sgt. Barry Sadler served in Vietnam and wrote the song to celebrate the Green Beret Special Forces. This song has a clear perspective that celebrates the contributions of soldiers, yet it does not explicitly discuss political concerns or more broadly interpret the war. (click here for lyrics)

Perspectives on War? to listen closely to Toby Keith’s 2003 song “American Soldier” as it plays through slides

How Does Music Reflect Does Music How Even more popular than “God Bless the USA” was Bette Midler’s 17-18. How does this song compare with Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA?” Do you Since the Vietnam era, music “From a Distance,” reaching #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1991. Ask students to listen to the think it is possible to identify an overall expression of approval or disapproval for war in this has been used to reflect a song as it plays in slides 12-13, answering the song analysis questions. The song, originally song? (click here for lyrics) written by Julie Gold in 1985, is again not explicitly centering on war as a subject, though it range of perspectives on war, a was adopted by the public as both an expression for peace and longing for the return of As the war in Iraq progressed, Americans’ approval for the war steadily tradition which continues into troops. (click here for lyrics) decreased, with CNN polls showing over 60% public disapproval of the war by 2006. That the 21st century. That civic dialogue same year, Pearl Jam released “World Wide Suicide,” a song written by the group’s lead that can be traced through popular music has On September 11, 2001, a global terrorist singer Eddie Vedder about Pat Tillman, a professional football player who turned down a included reflections on the post-war group known as Al-Qaida coordinated a series of contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the US Army. Tillman served in Iraq and experience of remembering the fallen at The attacks on the US which left over 3000 civilians dead Afghanistan, and his story became popular with the public after his death in 2004. The Wall. In 2014, Bruce Springsteen released a at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in song, which reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2006 and #1 on the Billboard song titled “The Wall” which tells the story of the Washington, DC area, and at a plane crash site in Modern Rock charts, is critical of the war, while visiting the Vietnam Memorial to reconnect not explicitly written to voice a perspective on the Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Play a small portion of the recognizing the service of soldiers like Tillman. with a friend. The song was written after Vietnam War. How does it compare with “Ballad of the live video coverage from 9/11 included on slide 14. Ask students to listen to the song as it plays in Springsteen visited the Vietnam Memorial Green Berets?” (click here for lyrics) Following the attacks, “Only Time,” a song by Irish slides 19-20, answering the song analysis and decided to write a song in honor of his singer Enya that had been released the previous year questions. How does this song’s perspective on friends and fellow musicians Walter Cichon A few years later, as the war in 2000, quickly rose to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Bart Haynes who died in the war. Ask students to progressed, the public grew increasingly charts as Americans adopted the song’s mournful tone listen to the song as it plays in slide 21, answering the disillusioned with the war, with disapproval ratings and message for the current tragedy. Ask students to song analysis questions. (click here for lyrics) reaching 64% in 1970. That same year, Edwin Starr’s performance of the Temptations’ song “War (What Is It Good For)” topped the Billboard charts at #1. Ask students to listen to the song as it plays in slides 6-7, answering the song analysis questions. How does a song like “War” compare with a song like “Arms for the Love of America” (from the pre-visit activity)? (click here for lyrics)

of support for troops serving in the Gulf War. Though the song was not written in the listen to the song as it plays in slides 15-16, answering the song analysis questions. (click war differ (or not differ) from a song like context of war, it was readapted by the public in order to voice support in a time of war. Ask here for lyrics) Edwin Starr’s “War?” Why do you think there students to listen to the song as it plays in slides 10-11, answering the song analysis is a more explicit separation of war and questions. Do you think it is possible to identify an overall expression of approval or Two years later in March 2003, the US invaded Iraq in search of warrior in the songs of more recent times? disapproval for war in this song? (click here for lyrics) nuclear weapons, in what marked the beginning of the eight year war in Iraq. Ask students (click here for lyrics) to listen closely to Toby Keith’s 2003 song “American Soldier” as it plays through slides Even more popular than “God Bless the USA” was Bette Midler’s 17-18. How does this song compare with Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA?” Do you Since the Vietnam era, music “From a Distance,” reaching #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1991. Ask students to listen to the think it is possible to identify an overall expression of approval or disapproval for war in this has been used to reflect a song as it plays in slides 12-13, answering the song analysis questions. The song, originally song? (click here for lyrics) written by Julie Gold in 1985, is again not explicitly centering on war as a subject, though it range of perspectives on war, a was adopted by the public as both an expression for peace and longing for the return of As the war in Iraq progressed, Americans’ approval for the war steadily tradition which continues into troops. (click here for lyrics) decreased, with CNN polls showing over 60% public disapproval of the war by 2006. That the 21st century. That civic dialogue same year, Pearl Jam released “World Wide Suicide,” a song written by the group’s lead that can be traced through popular music has On September 11, 2001, a global terrorist singer Eddie Vedder about Pat Tillman, a professional football player who turned down a included reflections on the post-war group known as Al-Qaida coordinated a series of contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the US Army. Tillman served in Iraq and experience of remembering the fallen at The attacks on the US which left over 3000 civilians dead Afghanistan, and his story became popular with the public after his death in 2004. The Wall. In 2014, Bruce Springsteen released a at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in song, which reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2006 and #1 on the Billboard song titled “The Wall” which tells the story of the Washington, DC area, and at a plane crash site in Modern Rock charts, is critical of the war, while visiting the Vietnam Memorial to reconnect not explicitly written to voice a perspective on the Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Play a small portion of the recognizing the service of soldiers like Tillman. with a friend. The song was written after Vietnam War. How does it compare with “Ballad of the live video coverage from 9/11 included on slide 14. Ask students to listen to the song as it plays in Springsteen visited the Vietnam Memorial Green Berets?” (click here for lyrics) Following the attacks, “Only Time,” a song by Irish slides 19-20, answering the song analysis and decided to write a song in honor of his singer Enya that had been released the previous year questions. How does this song’s perspective on friends and fellow musicians Walter Cichon A few years later, as the war in 2000, quickly rose to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Bart Haynes who died in the war. Ask students to FURTHER progressed, the public grew increasingly charts as Americans adopted the song’s mournful tone listen to the song as it plays in slide 21, answering the SUGGESTED disillusioned with the war, with disapproval ratings and message for the current tragedy. Ask students to song analysis questions. (click here for lyrics) READING reaching 64% in 1970. That same year, Edwin Starr’s The Republic of Rock: Music performance of the Temptations’ song “War (What Is It and Citizenship in the Good For)” topped the Billboard charts at #1. Ask Sixties Counterculture. students to listen to the song as it plays in slides 6-7, answering the song analysis Kramer, Michael J. questions. How does a song like “War” compare with a song like “Arms for the Love of POST-VISIT ACTIVITY New York: Oxford University America” (from the pre-visit activity)? (click here for lyrics) Press, 2013. there were also songs that Today’s Music Music and Protest in 1968. In the years following the Vietnam War, Kutschke, Beate and Barley interpreted the post-war experience—specifically the negative aspects of the post-war Ask students to research a current Norton. experience—that became popular. In 1982, the same year that the Vietnam Veterans Cambridge, England; New York: Memorial was dedicated, The Charlie Daniels Band released a song titled “Still in Saigon,” song that they would choose as describing their Cambridge University Press, written from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran unsure of his place in the world after his personal perspective on a current or recent conflict (e.g. 2013. return from war. Ask students to listen closely to the lyrics as the song plays in slides 8-9. Syria, Afghanistan, etc). Have students then use their What issues are mentioned that returning veterans may have to face? (click here for lyrics) selected songs as prompts for a writing exercise in which “There Must be Some Way they express their opinions on the conflict, e.g. Should we Outta Here: The Vietnam Right: Veterans at the Vietnam War in American Popular The Vietnam era set a precedent for music as a public space Memorial have forces fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq? Music.” In The Vietnam to reflect perspectives on war, with critical perspectives being acceptable and potentially Top: A demonstration protesting the War: Its History, Literature, even popular. With the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf in 1990, Lee Greenwood’s “God war in Iraq and Music. Pratt, Ray. Bless the USA,” though originally released in 1984, gained prominence as a patriotic song Opposite Top: A scene from the wreckage of September 11, 2001 El Paso, TX: Texas Western Press, 1998. Opposite Bottom: Anti-war protestors gather in Philadelphia in 2007 to call for support for US troops and an end to the war in Iraq. VVMF ECHOES FROM THE WALL DISCUSSION GUIDE | 8 STANDARDS ADDRESSED Common Core Standards College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, analysis of primary and secondary sources, D.2.Civ.10-9-12 D2.His.11.9-12 attending to such features as the date and connecting insights gained from specific Analyze the impact and the appropriate roles Critique the usefulness of historical sources origin of the information. details to an understanding of the text as a of personal interests and perspectives on the for specific historical inquiry based on their whole. application of civic virtues, democratic maker, date, place of origin, intended CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2 principles, constitutional rights, and human audience, and purpose. Determine the central ideas or information CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2 rights. of a primary or secondary source; provide an Determine the central ideas or information of D2.His.16.9-12 accurate summary of how key events or a primary or secondary source; provide an D2.His.2.9-12 Integrate evidence from multiple relevant ideas develop over the course of the text. accurate summary that makes clear the Analyze change and continuity in historical historical sources and interpretations into a relationships among the key details and ideas. eras reasoned argument about the past. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.6 Compare the point of view of two or more CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.3 D2.His.10.9-12 authors for how they treat the same or Evaluate various explanations for actions or Detect possible limitations in various kinds of similar topics, including which details they events and determine which explanation best historical evidence and differing secondary include and emphasize in their respective accords with textual evidence, acknowledging interpretations accounts. where the text leaves matters uncertain.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.9 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.6 Compare and contrast treatments of the Evaluate authors' differing points of view on same topic in several primary and the same historical event or issue by secondary sources assessing the authors' claims, reasoning, and evidence.

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