The decision to memorialize someone or something, in the form of renaming buildings, statues, areas dedicated to people or events, monuments, or other forms, requires careful consideration. Some of the most important factors that a group or agency should consider before memorializing an event or person are the historical significance, whether the person or event is seen as having a positive or negative impact on society, and the location of the memorial or monument. Generally speaking, monuments are built to honor supposedly “great” achievements. Memorials are made for people who lived extraordinary lives. When memorialization is being thought about, the historical significance of that person or event must be considered. When a statue of H. Elroy Johnson, an irrelevant lobster trapper …show more content…
Statues made of presidents are given praise, no matter what that leader may have accomplished, because as a U.S. president, he is seen as an important historical figure (Source A, C). Another aspect of historical significance is whether or not the monument will actually hold “relic or spiritual trace of past presence” (Source A). For example, the Lincoln Memorial has no actual connection to Abraham Lincoln or his life (Source A). The monument is treasured for it’s hand carving of the Gettysburg Address and because it creates a “community of readers” (Source A). However, if it were to be in a place of significance in Lincoln’s life, the monument would create an even stronger connection between Lincoln and citizens today. People would be able to see the monument and remember the history behind where it is. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is an example of a monument that holds historical significance. It was built at 1964 Independence Avenue as a reference to the year the