Commemorative Moments
Remembrance, reflection and community.
Commemorative Moments recognizes events, themes, and people which are central to the identity of the College of Liberal Arts. They provide the framework to consider and reconsider the values of interdisciplinarity—curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. By appreciating common values and differences, we prioritize inclusion and diversity that enriches the communities in which we live by being engaged and informed citizens.
Commemorative Moments will provide opportunities for:
- Critical analysis of accepted understanding of significant past events, people, performance, narratives, symbolism, and experiences
- Reflection on the ways societal values regarding commemorations evolve over time
- Analysis of interpretations and meanings ascribed to significant historical moments
- Assessment of the role commemorative activities play in supporting democratic institutions
Commemorative Moments Calendar
| Moment | Description | Dates |
| Hispanic Heritage Month | Recognition of Hispanic contributions to American history, culture, and society. | September 15 to October 15 |
| Labor Day | Recognition of the achievement of American workers and the American Labor movement. | First Monday of September |
| Constitution Day | Recognition of the U.S. Constitution and its role in modern democracy, history, politics, and culture. | September 17 |
| Banned Books Week | Recognition of the efforts to resist censorship in literature. | Week of September 22 |
| Native American Heritage and Alaska Native Heritage Month | Recognition of Indigenous contributions to American history, culture, and society. | November |
| Maryland Emancipation Day | Commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved people in Maryland. | November 1, 1864 |
| Veterans Day | Recognition of American military veterans and the Armistice that ended World War I. | November 11 |
| Pearl Harbor Day | Rememberance the attack on the American naval base in Pearl Harbor, HI, leading to America's entry into WWII. | December 7, 1941 |
| Human Rights Day | Commemoration of the anniversary of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. | December 10 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Recognition of the American Civil Rights leader's life and activism. | Third Monday in January |
| Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau/International Holocaust Remembrance Day | Commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps by Allied Forces during WWII. | January 27 |
| Black History Month | Recognition of Black and African American contributions to American history, culture, and society. | February |
| Women’s History Month | Recognition of women’s contributions to American history, culture, and society. | March International Women's Day (March 8) |
| Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month | Commemoration of all the victims and survivors of genocides past and present and support
of efforts to prevent future atrocities. |
April |
| National Poetry Month | Opportunity to read, promote, and celebrate poetry and poets. | April |
| Earth Day | Recognition of the values, goals, and accomplishments of the environmental movement, from the late 20th century to the present. | April 22 |
| APIMEDA Month | Recognition of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and Desi American contributions to history, culture, and society. | May |
| Jewish-American Heritage Month | Recognition of Jewish-American contributions to history, culture, and society. | May |
| Maryland Bill of Rights Day | Reflection on the impact of Maryland's post-Civil War Constitution. | May 8, 1867 |
| Memorial Day | Recognition of military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. | Last Monday in May |
| Pride Month | Commemoration of the Stonewall riots and recognition of the LGBTQ+ communities' contributions to history, culture, and society. | June |
| Juneteenth | Commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. | June 19 |
| Disability Pride Month | Recognition of the history, challenges, and achievements of the disabled community. | July |
| Independence Day | Reflection on democracy and freedom on the date of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. | July 4, 1776 |
Series Administration
The primary administration of this series is in the College Dean’s Office which will maintain the Calendar of Commemorative Moments and related events. Each year, a committee will review and revise the calendar in an effort to emphasize and reinvigorate these significant moments.
A student advisory group will meet at least once each term to provide recommendations for the calendar and will be made up of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council, student representatives to CLA Council, the CLA Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and the CLA Committee on Technology.
Committee Members
- Laura Callahan, LLC
- Joe Davis, English
- Amanda Walter, History
- Nikki DiGregorio, Family Science
- Todd Kenreich, Secondary and Middle School Education (College of Education)
- Jill Max, Baltimore Hebrew Institute
- Brian Hillman, Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Jo-Ann Pilardi, TURFA
- Suat Cubukcu, SOAN
- Jonathan Hensley, Political Science