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Top 25 Army & Military PowerPoint Templates to Honor Our Heroes

Malvika Varma

Life and death meet face to face at the time of war. Everything collapses and lots of lives are lost but sadly, war is sometimes inevitable. While nobody likes the idea of having to leave their family and friends, some of our fellow countrymen have taken up arms to defend their country.  It takes great valor and sacrifice to do what our soldiers do.

“We sleep peaceably in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf.” - George Orwell

Military power has a critical role in the creation and sustenance of the international political and economic order. A strong military ensures a higher degree of security and stability. It also gives the ability to seize or reduce its neighboring countries and potential rivals in areas such as economics, political or resource-based power. History tells us about the countries whose eventual downfall came on the battlefield.

“The Army is the true nobility of our country.”  – Napoleon Bonaparte

It is for the military men who sacrifice their lives so that we can live in a free and prosperous society. Even more so, the brave soldiers and veterans risk their lives to safeguard our freedom and liberty. We enjoy liberty and freedom much because of the courageous men and women at the battlefield who dedicate their lives to protect their nation. The selfless act of valor of our military men and women deserves to be honored.

May is celebrated as Military Appreciation Month as it includes many United States military celebrations and commemorations, such as Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Armed Forces Day, and most importantly, Memorial Day. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May to pay homage to the men and women who have died while serving in the military. As our military force deserves to be honored and appreciated, SlideTeam has designed Top 25 Army & Military PowerPoint Templates for you to download.

Explore these professionally designed PowerPoint templates and appreciate the fearless soldiers.

Top 25 Army & Military PowerPoint Templates to Download

Military forces play a crucial role in the safety of the citizens of the nation. Emphasize the significance of the armed forces by downloading this striking military PowerPoint template. It can be employed to announce events such as Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day to showcase all the pride and strength of our soldiers. The simplistic yet elegant style and fully-customizable layout make this PowerPoint background a great option for any military-related website.

Perfect for events such as Memorial Day, download this military PowerPoint theme to commemorate exceptional service of the military men and women. The flag background of this military PowerPoint template makes it suitable for paying tribute to the soldiers who fight for the country’s safety. A military school, army, and military service advertisement website can easily incorporate this attractive PowerPoint theme

Training institutes website can easily employ this editable military PowerPoint template. Also, it fits the war military club, veterans association, etc. websites and can help in raising funds for the wellbeing of the families of the martyrs. Encourage students to take military services as a career with this military PPT background. The significance of good health can also be discussed with the assistance of this splendid army PowerPoint layout.

Armed forces deserve all the respect from the citizens which can be elaborated by this attractive military PowerPoint theme. You can employ this fully customizable army PowerPoint template for a military school website. Recruitment of any branch of the service like air force, navy, etc. can be effectively communicated with the help of this military PowerPoint template. 

Download our eye-catching military PowerPoint template to honor our soldiers for events such as Army Day and Memorial Day. The patriotic design of this pre-designed military PowerPoint theme makes it perfect for school and college projects. This army PowerPoint theme can be useful in case of selling military gear. It is high-quality, easy to edit, and customizable military PPT background.

Incorporate this military PowerPoint template for highlighting the missions of the armed forces for a seminar or conference. Information regarding recruitment in military services can be illustrated on the website by employing this eye-catching PowerPoint background. You can create a navy website showcasing the pride and valor with the help of this editable military PowerPoint layout.

Our navy PowerPoint theme can be downloaded by school teachers to educate students about the armed forces of the country. The history of the navy can be elucidated in seminars and conferences by utilizing this easy-to-edit military PowerPoint template. Activity camps can also incorporate this attractive PowerPoint layout for showcasing the details of model making competition.

Pay a tribute to the brave soldiers of the military with this editable army PowerPoint template. You can download this visually appealing military PowerPoint theme for the website that sells military uniforms and can increase your customers. You can also utilize this professionally designed military PowerPoint background to give details of the events of celebrating the nation’s armed forces. 

Download this navy PowerPoint template to showcase the honor for the defense forces. Boot camps, military clubs, military service promotion websites, veterans associations, etc. can utilize this versatile military PowerPoint theme. Recruitment agencies can employ this aesthetically appealing military PowerPoint background to mention the eligibility details of the interested candidates.

Template 10

For strategy mission implementation, the defense team can utilize this professionally designed military PowerPoint template. To have a clear organizational mission for everyone to function at the highest level, employ this splendid looking military PowerPoint theme. Seminars regarding military services can incorporate this ready-made army PPT theme.

Template 11

Highlight the training given to armed forces with the help of this striking military PowerPoint template. Moreover, the contents are also customizable to suit your needs. You can download this military PowerPoint background to highlight the formations made by our soldiers to fight against the enemies across the border. Training institute websites can employ this editable PowerPoint template.

Template 12

Honor the guardians of the sky with this ready-made armed forces PowerPoint template. Highlight the services offered by military forces to safeguard the borders with the help of this editable army PowerPoint theme. Military services and army recruitment campaigns can be communicated effectively with the assistance of this professionally designed PowerPoint background.

Template 13

Details of the command process in the military can be efficiently illustrated by utilizing this infographic military Powerpoint template. Download this infographic military PowerPoint theme to highlight the missions which are being relayed from one commander to another. In line with this editable PowerPoint layout, a proper command process can be ensured.

Template 14

The need for first aid kits can be emphasized with the help of this amazingly designed military PowerPoint template. Use this editable army PowerPoint background for seminars addressing the health care facilities at the military camps. Medical facilities can also be showcased by utilizing this high-quality PowerPoint template.

Template 15

Use this high-quality PowerPoint background to pay tribute to the martyrs. Incorporate this attractive military PowerPoint template into your history class to educate students about the armed forces. Blogs and websites illustrating the services of defense forces can download this aesthetically appealing military PowerPoint layout. Army and Military Templates can be showcased to honor the brave soldiers. 

Template 16

Show your appreciation for excelling troops by downloading this editable military PowerPoint template. Utilize this patriotic PowerPoint theme to build a website for NGOs, military, and army recruitment. Incorporate this visually appealing military PowerPoint background for military-related presentations in seminars and conferences.

Template 17

Introducing this pre-designed military PowerPoint template to mention the responsibilities and duties of the military officers. Utilize this ready-made army PowerPoint theme to showcase the accomplishments of defense forces. This military PowerPoint background can be used to elucidate the members' duties and line up. 

Template 18

Employ this attractive military PowerPoint theme to understand the structure of the airplane. This fully customizable army PowerPoint layout can be downloaded to serve your military-related websites and blogs. Jet construction companies can incorporate this editable PowerPoint layout.

Template 19

The department of defense is one of the most crucial sectors in maintaining national security. Download this editable military PowerPoint template to explain the role of the navy in safeguarding the coasts of a nation. Incorporate this striking military PowerPoint theme and discuss the responsibilities of our navy department effectively. 

Template 20

Military service and army recruitment campaigns can be addressed with this visually appealing PowerPoint theme. News related to armed forces can be communicated effectively by this pre-designed military PowerPoint layout. The training required for navy recruitment can be mentioned to encourage more candidates to choose the armed forces as their career .

Template 21

Sell products associated with the army camps, outside adventures by utilizing this editable military PowerPoint background. Websites related to military facilities can download this ready-made army PowerPoint theme. Army and Military templates can be used for informing about the details of camping.

Template 22

Emphasize the power of the defense department by incorporating this professionally designed military PowerPoint theme. Highlight the military resolutions with this editable military PowerPoint template. The stepwise military resolution can be communicated efficiently with this striking PowerPoint theme. 

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A military force is a large organization that follows an organized workflow. Elucidate the responsibilities with the help of our professionally designed military PowerPoint template. Military-related events can easily download this editable defense forces PowerPoint theme.

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Download this attention-grabbing military PowerPoint theme for a dedicated blog or website to share content appropriate for warfare. Seminars addressing the military services can incorporate this attractive military PowerPoint template. Commemorate the sacrifices of our soldiers by utilizing this military PowerPoint background for events such as Memorial Day. Army and Military Templates are useful for encouraging youth to opt for armed forces.

Template 25

Employ this visually appealing powerful template to educate students about the history of military forces. With this comprehensively designed military PowerPoint template, you can elaborate on the success stories of our martyrs. Download this stunning military PPT background for military-based websites.

Great men and women in the military have families of their own who they have to leave behind to defend their country and for the safety of citizens. Commemorate our army heroes with these Top 25 Army & Military PowerPoint Templates. 

Download these templates to keep the spirit high and strong!

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Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

• This program is FREE! 
• You must complete and submit the Field Trip Request Form  at least two weeks prior to your intended visitation date
• To see what dates are available, please visit our  online calendar
• If your school group exceeds 35 students, special arrangements may be required (i.e, group rotations and other logistics)
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Last updated: November 30, 2023

A day in the life of a Roman soldier: What was it like?

In the shadow of towering aqueducts and amidst the grandeur of colossal Roman architecture, there thrived a force that was the true embodiment of the empire's might: the Roman soldier.

These men, with their gleaming armor and disciplined formations, were more than just warriors; they were symbols of Rome's indomitable spirit and its vast reach across continents.

But who were these men behind the shields?

What drove them to march vast distances, to build roads, forts, and to face death in distant lands?

How did they live, train, and find solace amidst the chaos of war?

Sign up today! How to become a Roman soldier

The Roman Empire, in its quest for expansion and dominance, required a vast and efficient military machine .

This need gave rise to a rigorous recruitment process, ensuring that the legions were continually replenished with capable men.

Initially, Roman soldiers were citizens called upon to defend their city and its territories.

However, as the empire grew, so did its need for a more professional and standing army.

The Marian reforms of 107 BC, introduced by Gaius Marius , marked a significant shift.

No longer was the Roman army a band of property-owning citizens; it transformed into a force of career soldiers, often drawn from the poorer strata of society, who saw the military as a means to social mobility and a steady income.

Welcome to basic training

Once recruited, these men were thrust into a world of intense training and discipline.

A new recruit's life was drastically altered as he was molded into a legionary. Training was not merely about physical prowess; it was about instilling a mindset.

The raw recruits learned to wield the gladius and pilum with deadly precision, but they also internalized the values of loyalty, discipline, and sacrifice.

Days were spent practicing formations, mock battles, and endurance marches. The training grounds echoed with the clatter of weapons and the shouts of centurions, ensuring that each man knew his place in the vast military machine and could execute orders without hesitation.

Becoming part of the team

Yet, beyond the physical and tactical training, there was an underlying purpose: forging a bond among the soldiers.

The Roman military genius was not just in its tactics or equipment but in its ability to create a cohesive unit out of diverse individuals.

Men from different regions, with varied backgrounds, were transformed into brothers-in-arms.

They shared tents, broke bread together, and watched each other's backs in the heat of battle.

This camaraderie, born on the training grounds and solidified in the crucible of combat, was the true strength of the Roman legions.

It ensured that when they marched, they did so as one, an indomitable force representing the might of Rome.

Your daily routine

The life of a Roman soldier, while punctuated by battles and campaigns, was largely defined by a structured daily routine.

As dawn broke over the Roman camp, the bugle's call would rouse the legionaries from their slumber.

This was not a gentle awakening; it was a summons to the day's duties. The first order of business was the morning muster.

Soldiers would assemble in their respective units, standing in neat rows, awaiting inspection.

This was a crucial ritual, ensuring that every man was accounted for, and that weapons and armor were in prime condition.

Any neglect could mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield, and the Roman military left nothing to chance.

Following the muster, the legionaries would engage in rigorous training exercises. Even seasoned veterans, with numerous campaigns under their belts, were not exempt from these daily drills.

The Roman military machine's efficiency lay in its discipline and the unwavering commitment to honing skills.

Soldiers practiced hand-to-hand combat, simulated battle scenarios, and worked on maintaining their physical fitness.

The clanging of swords, the rhythmic thud of shields, and the shouted commands of officers filled the air, a testament to the relentless pursuit of martial excellence.

However, the day was not all work and no play. After the morning's exertions, soldiers would break for their main meal, often a hearty stew accompanied by bread, washed down with a sour wine.

This was a time for relaxation and camaraderie, as stories, jokes, and news were exchanged among the men.

The afternoon might see lighter duties, perhaps guard shifts or maintenance tasks around the camp.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the camp would settle into a quieter rhythm. Evening meals were consumed, prayers offered to the gods , and as night enveloped the camp, the soldiers would retreat to their tents, finding solace in the company of their comrades.

Not just fighting... Here are the jobs you might do

One of the primary duties of a legionary was to stand guard. Whether stationed at the towering gates of a fort, along the vast stretches of Hadrian's Wall , or at the entrance of a commanding officer's tent, the act of standing watch was a sacred responsibility.

It was a testament to the soldier's discipline and commitment, ensuring that threats, both external and internal, were kept at bay.

Night watches were particularly crucial, with soldiers relying on passwords to identify friend from foe, a system overseen by the tesserarius, an officer responsible for the daily watchword.

Beyond the confines of the camp, Roman soldiers often found themselves tasked with patrol duties.

These patrols were essential for gathering intelligence, scouting potential threats, and ensuring the safety of Roman territories.

In the vast expanse of the empire, from the arid deserts of the East to the dense forests of Germania, these patrols were the eyes and ears of Rome, a constant reminder of its omnipresence.

Yet, not all duties were centered around combat or defense. Roman soldiers were also engineers, builders, and laborers.

They constructed roads that connected the empire, forts that solidified its borders, and bridges that spanned its rivers.

The famed Roman roads, straight and durable, were often built by the very soldiers who would march on them.

This dual role of soldier and builder was a strategic masterstroke, allowing rapid deployment and movement of troops.

Moreover, it instilled a sense of ownership and pride in the infrastructure they built, knowing that these structures would serve both their comrades and the generations to come.

Your home away from home: Life in a Roman fort

The castrum, or Roman fort, was a home away from home for the legionaries stationed within its walls.

These forts, strategically dotted across the vast expanse of the empire, served as both defensive bastions and centers of Roman culture and administration in newly conquered or frontier territories.

Within the sturdy walls of the castrum, life thrived in a structured yet vibrant manner.

The fort was meticulously planned, with broad streets like the Via Praetoria cutting through its heart, leading from the main gate to the headquarters, or the Principia.

This building was the administrative and religious center of the fort, housing the legion's standards, the shrine for daily offerings, and the offices of commanding officers.

Adjacent to the Principia, one would often find the horrea, or granaries, vital for storing the provisions that kept the legion fed and functional.

Yet, the castrum was not just about administration and storage. The barracks, where the soldiers lived, were a hive of activity.

Arranged in a series of contubernia, each housing unit accommodated eight men, who not only shared sleeping quarters but also the camaraderie of shared experiences.

Beyond the barracks, the castrum often boasted workshops, bathhouses, and sometimes even amphitheaters.

These amenities provided the soldiers with a semblance of civilian life, allowing them to relax, socialize, and engage in trade or crafts.

The presence of traders, craftsmen, and often families of the soldiers added to the bustling atmosphere, making the castrum a lively community rather than just a military installation.

The harsh punishments when you broke the rules...

The backbone of the Roman military's unparalleled success was its unwavering discipline.

This discipline, however, came at a price, enforced through a strict code of conduct and a series of harsh punishments for those who dared to transgress.

The Roman legions were not just a fighting force; they were a meticulously organized institution where order, hierarchy, and adherence to rules were paramount.

This rigorous discipline ensured the smooth functioning of the legions, especially in the heat of battle, where a single misstep could spell disaster.

Minor infractions, such as negligence in maintaining equipment or tardiness for duty, often resulted in fines or a reduction in rations.

However, more severe offenses, like theft, insubordination, or desertion, demanded harsher retribution.

Flogging, a common punishment, was administered publicly, serving as a deterrent to others.

The leather whip, or flagrum, was a fearsome instrument, and a soldier subjected to its lashes bore the scars as a lifelong reminder of his transgression.

Yet, among all the punishments , one stood out for its sheer brutality and psychological impact: decimation.

Reserved for units that displayed cowardice or mutiny, this punishment saw every tenth man, chosen by lot, executed by his comrades.

The randomness of the selection process instilled a profound fear, ensuring that the collective bore the responsibility for the actions of a few.

The survivors, after witnessing or participating in the execution of their brothers-in-arms, were often forced to camp outside the fort's protective walls, a symbolic and literal ostracization.

The importance of religion and superstitions

Religion and superstition played a pivotal role in the life of a Roman soldier, intertwining with their daily routines and shaping their perceptions of the world around them.

The Roman pantheon, vast and varied, offered a deity for almost every aspect of life, and the military was no exception.

Mars, the god of war, was venerated with particular fervor among the legions. As the divine protector of soldiers and a symbol of martial prowess, his favor was sought before embarking on campaigns and during significant battles.

Temples dedicated to Mars dotted the empire, and within the confines of the castrum, altars were often erected in his honor.

Yet, the soldiers' religious practices were not limited to the official Roman gods. The legions, drawing men from various parts of the empire, became a melting pot of religious beliefs and practices.

Deities from conquered lands, such as the Persian god Mithras, found a following among the Roman troops.

The cult of Mithras, with its rituals of initiation and its emphasis on bravery and camaraderie, resonated deeply with the soldiers, leading to its widespread popularity within the ranks.

Superstition, too, was deeply ingrained in the military psyche. Omens, dreams, and natural phenomena were often interpreted as signs from the gods, guiding the decisions of generals and the morale of the troops.

The flight of birds, the behavior of animals, or even a chance occurrence before a battle could be seen as portents of victory or defeat.

One of the most revered symbols in the Roman military was the eagle, or aquila. Each legion possessed its own aquila, a golden eagle mounted on a standard.

It was not just a symbol of the legion's honor and pride but was believed to hold the protective spirit of the unit.

Losing this standard to the enemy was considered a catastrophic event, steeped in both shame and superstitious dread.

What to expect on the day of battle...

The day of battle was a culmination of rigorous training, strategy, and the raw emotions of anticipation, fear, and camaraderie.

As dawn broke, the Roman camp would be abuzz with activity. Soldiers would don their armor, meticulously checking each piece for any flaws.

The weight of the lorica segmentata, the clinking of the metal, and the firm grip of the scutum shield served as tangible reminders of the impending confrontation.

The air would be thick with tension, punctuated by the sharp commands of centurions and the murmured prayers of soldiers seeking favor from the gods.

Before the battle commenced, generals and tribunes would address their troops, delivering rousing speeches to bolster morale and remind them of their duty to Rome.

These speeches, often invoking the glory of past victories and the honor of the Roman name, were crucial in galvanizing the soldiers, transforming individual fears into a collective drive.

As formations were set, the Roman discipline came to the fore. Legionaries would form tight ranks, with auxiliaries and cavalry taking their designated positions.

The meticulous organization, a hallmark of Roman military strategy, ensured that each soldier knew his role and place in the vast machinery of war.

As the two opposing forces approached each other, the battlefield would resonate with the sounds of war horns, the shouts of commanders, and the rhythmic march of armored feet.

The initial moments were often a test of wills, with both sides employing psychological tactics, from war cries to the display of banners, aiming to intimidate the enemy.

Then, with the hurling of the first pilum , the battle would commence in earnest. Amidst the chaos of clashing swords and the cries of combatants, the Roman soldier relied on his training, the orders of his officers, and the support of his comrades.

The bond forged in the castrum and on long marches now became the lifeline, as soldiers fought, not just for Rome, but for the brother beside them.

How did people leave the Roman army?

Leaving the Roman army, much like entering it, was a structured process, governed by tradition, rules, and the needs of the empire.

The typical service tenure for a Roman legionary was 25 years, a period that could extend depending on the circumstances of the empire and its military needs.

After fulfilling their service, soldiers were formally discharged in a process known as "missio honesta," or honorable discharge.

This was a significant milestone in a soldier's life, marking the transition from a life of rigorous discipline and duty to one of relative civilian freedom.

Upon discharge, a legionary would receive a "diploma," a bronze document that certified his completion of service and granted him specific privileges.

One of the most coveted rewards for many soldiers, especially those who had joined the legions as non-citizens, was the grant of Roman citizenship.

This was a transformative honor, elevating a soldier's social status and providing him with legal and economic benefits.

Alongside citizenship, retiring soldiers were often given a plot of land, sometimes in the newly conquered territories.

This land grant served a dual purpose: it acted as a pension for the veteran, ensuring his economic well-being, and simultaneously, by settling veterans in new or restive regions, Rome effectively established pockets of loyal, experienced individuals who could act as a stabilizing influence.

However, not all exits from the army were marked by such honor and reward. Some soldiers, due to severe injuries or health issues, might receive a medical discharge, allowing them to leave before completing their full term.

On the other end of the spectrum were those who faced dishonorable discharges, a consequence of grave misconduct or dereliction of duty.

Such individuals were stripped of their privileges and often faced societal disdain.

Regardless of the circumstances of their departure, life after the army presented challenges for many veterans.

While some seamlessly transitioned into farming or trade, leveraging the skills and networks they had built during their service, others grappled with the psychological and physical scars of warfare.

The camaraderie and structure of the military life were hard to replace, and many veterans found solace in forming associations or joining veteran communities, where shared experiences bridged the gap between the world of the legions and the civilian realm.

In these gatherings, tales of past campaigns were recounted, bonds rekindled, and the legacy of their service to the mighty Roman Empire was celebrated and remembered.

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Soldier Life of the American Revolution

A 360° Virtual Reality Experience

Experience America's founding conflict with the American Battlefield Trust’s latest virtual reality experience. Step back in time and experience the Revolutionary War from a soldier's perspective.

Watch the Video

Experience the Revolutionary War as never before with the American Battlefield Trust’s virtual reality experience. In this first American Revolution 360° video, experience panoramic views of camp life, battle and the painful aftermath of fighting. (Runtime 2:48)

American Battlefield Trust & Wide Awake Films

Please note: For the most immersive experience, view this video with your virtual reality headset or cardboard viewer.  To get started, launch the video with the YouTube app.  Select the VR headset icon on the lower right part of the screen and put your smartphone into the cardboard viewer (not needed for headsets). 

Additional Viewing Tips

Get ready to be transported back to the Revolutionary War, where you’ll experience the atmosphere of a military camp, the chaotic nature of woodland fighting and the perilous horrors of late 18th-century medicine and warfare.  You can watch this video on desktop, mobile or — for the most immersive experience — with your Virtual Reality headset. 

No matter where you watch:

• Connect to WiFi to avoid data charges.
• If possible, wear headphones. If you do not have headphones, turn up the volume on your device.
• There’s something to see in every direction, so make sure to look around.
• Use your cursor to pan the scene in 360° to see all the action
• Use your finger to move and swipe the scene in 360°.
• Pinch-and-zoom to get a closer look

 Virtual Reality Headset or Cardboard Viewer:

• Using a virtual reality headset allows you to simply turn your head to move around the scene
• Not only are the VR videos viewed on a headset immersive, but they use the full potential of the directional sound — the audio adjusts to the way you are facing.
• There’s a viewer for every budget! You can purchase a viewer at  Knox Labs .
• Do you have an Oculus headset? Download the Experience  from the store here .

About This Project

The American Battlefield Trust has long worked to educate individuals by building bridges into the past through historically rich experiences. In recent years, the nonprofit has made use of groundbreaking VR technology to transport viewers to another time and place, conveying a sense of up-close emotion that other methods cannot. Following the success of  Civil War 1864: A Virtual Reality Experience  — which has amassed 40 million  YouTube  views since its November 2019 launch — the Trust recognized an obvious opportunity to take its audience even further back in American history. Thus, the idea for  Soldier Life of the American Revolution  took root.

Seeking to pursue, experiment, and build a foundation for an education-oriented VR collection, the Trust turned to its longtime partners at  Wide Awake Films , a Kansas City, Mo.-based creative media group focused on innovative, efficient execution of historical, commercial and corporate films. With their expert skill set proven time and again, the media group remained dedicated to producing footage with an authentic feel.

In this Revolutionary-era VR iteration, audiences are met with panoramic views of camp life, battle and the painful aftermath of fighting. Not only through the eyes of Patriot soldiers does the audience witness these occurrences — but also through the perspective of British troops and female nurses. Those using a virtual reality headset or cardboard viewer can take advantage of the product’s directional sound, while mobile devices enable users to pinch-and-zoom for a closer look at specific details. Either method gives viewers a degree of control to explore the scenes from the angle that most interests them while tuning in to the narrator’s insightful commentary. While not every student of history can grasp the reality of life amid the Revolutionary War from a book, many will find the sensory-filled digital resource to be a refreshing tool that enhances history education.  

The American Battlefield Trust  is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 50,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War.

Wide Awake Films  is a creative media group focused on innovative, efficient execution of historical, commercial and corporate video and film production. The production company excels in producing compelling and powerful corporate messages, as well as Emmy award-winning historical content for museums, documentaries and television programming.

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History | Updated: April 19, 2024 Originally Published: July 2009

What You Need to Know About China’s Terra-Cotta Warriors and the First Qin Emperor

The thousands of clay soldiers guarding Qin Shi Huang’s tomb are enduring representations of the ruler’s legacy

Arthur Lubow ; Updated by Sonja Anderson

In March 1974, a group of peasants digging a well in China’s drought-parched Shaanxi province unearthed fragments of a clay figure—the first evidence of what would turn out to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of modern times. Near the unexcavated tomb of Qin Shi Huang —who proclaimed himself first emperor of China in 221 B.C.E.—lay an extraordinary underground treasure: an entire army of life-size terra-cotta soldiers and horses, interred for more than 2,000 years.

The site, where Qin Shi Huang’s ancient capital of Xianyang once stood, lies a half-hour drive from traffic-clogged Xi’an , population nine million . It is a dry, scrubby land, planted with persimmon and pomegranate—bitterly cold in winter and scorching hot in summer—and marked by dun-colored hills pocked with caves. But hotels and a roadside souvenir emporium selling five-foot-tall pottery figures suggest that something other than fruit cultivation is going on here.

Over the past 50 years, archaeologists have located some 600 pits , a complex of underground vaults, across a 22-square-mile area. Some are hard to get to, but three major pits are easily accessible, enclosed inside Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum , constructed around the discovery site and opened in 1979 as the four-acre Museum of Qin Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses . In one pit, long columns of warriors, reassembled from broken pieces, stand in formation. With their topknots or caps, their tunics or armored vests, their goatees or close-cropped beards, the soldiers exhibit an astonishing individuality . A second pit inside the museum demonstrates how they appeared when they were found: Some stand upright, buried to their shoulders in soil, while others lie toppled on their backs, alongside fallen and cracked clay horses. The site ranks with the Great Wall and Beijing’s Forbidden City as one of China’s premier tourist attractions.

Specimens unearthed from the pits in Xi’an have stunned audiences around the world. Between 2007 and 2009, the British Museum , Atlanta’s High Museum , California’s Bowers Museum , the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the National Geographic Society Museum in Washington, D.C. all hosted traveling exhibitions featuring original terra-cotta warriors. More recently, the soldiers have made appearances at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center , New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and England’s World Museum Liverpool .

Exhibitions have featured statuary—armored officers, infantrymen, and standing and kneeling archers—as well as terra-cotta horses and replicas of intricately detailed bronze chariots , drawn by bronze horses. These artifacts offer a glimpse of the treasure trove that attracts visitors to the Xi’an museum site, where more than 2,000 of the estimated 8,000 warriors have been disinterred so far.

The stupendous find at first seemed to reinforce conventional thinking—that the first emperor had been a relentless warmonger who cared only for military might. As archaeologists have learned, however, that assessment was incomplete. Qin Shi Huang may have conquered China with his army—believed to consist of 500,000-plus men—but he held it together with a civil administration system that endured for centuries. Among other accomplishments, the emperor standardized weights and measures and introduced a uniform writing script.

Digs have revealed that in addition to the clay soldiers, Qin Shi Huang’s underground realm, presumably a facsimile of the court that surrounded him during his lifetime, is also populated by delightfully realistic waterfowl , crafted from bronze and serenaded by terra-cotta musicians. The emperor’s clay retinue includes terra-cotta officials and even troupes of acrobats , slightly smaller than the soldiers but created with the same methods. “We find the underground pits are an imitation of the real organization in the Qin dynasty,” says Duan Qingbo , head of the mausoleum excavation team. “People thought when the emperor died, he took just a lot of pottery army soldiers with him. Now they realize he took a whole political system with him.”

Qin Shi Huang decreed a mass-production approach ; artisans turned out figures almost like cars on an assembly line. Clay, unlike bronze, lends itself to quick and cheap fabrication. Workers built bodies, then customized them with heads, hats, shoes, mustaches, ears and so on, made in small molds. Some of the figures appear so strikingly individual that they seem modeled on real people, though that is unlikely. “These probably weren’t portraits in the Western sense,” says Hiromi Kinoshita , who helped curate the 2007 exhibition at the British Museum. Instead, they may have been aggregate portraits: The ceramicists, says Kinoshita, “could have been told that you need to represent all the different types of people who come from different regions of China.”

The first emperor’s capital, Xianyang, was a large metropolis, where he reportedly erected more than 270 palaces, of which only a single foundation is known to survive. Each time Qin Shi Huang conquered a rival state, he is said to have transported its ruling families to Xianyang, housing the vanquished in replicas of palaces they had left behind. At the same time, the emperor directed construction of his tomb complex; some 720,000 workers reportedly labored on these vast projects.

Upon the death of his father, Yiren , in 246 B.C.E., the future Qin Shi Huang—then a 13-year-old prince named Ying Zheng—ascended the throne of the Qin kingdom. Celebrated for its horsemen, Qin sat on the margin of civilization, regarded by its easterly rivals as a semi-savage wasteland. Its governing philosophy was as harsh as its terrain. Elsewhere in China, Confucianism held that a well-run state should be administered by the same precepts governing a family: mutual obligation and respect. Qin rulers, however, subscribed to a doctrine known as legalism , which rested on the administration of punitive laws.

In his early 20s, Ying Zheng turned for guidance to a visionary statesman, Li Si , who likely initiated many of the sovereign’s accomplishments. Under Li’s tutelage, Ying Zheng introduced a uniform script (thereby enabling subjects of vastly different dialects to communicate). Standardization, a hallmark of the Qin state, was applied to weaponry as well: Should an arrow shaft snap or the trigger on a repeating crossbow malfunction, the component could be easily replaced. The young ruler also presided over the creation of an advanced agricultural infrastructure that incorporated irrigation canals and storage granaries.

With methodical zeal, Ying Zheng set about conquering the warring states that surrounded him in the late third century B.C.E. As his armies advanced, principalities fell. No one could thwart consolidation of an empire that eventually stretched from parts of present-day Sichuan in the west to coastal regions along the East China Sea . Having unified the entire civilized world as he knew it, Ying Zheng in 221 B.C.E. renamed himself, adopting the title of huangdi , or emperor.

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He then invested in infrastructure and built massive fortifications. His road network likely exceeded 4,000 miles, including 40-foot-wide speedways with a central lane reserved for the imperial family. On the northern frontier, the emperor dispatched his most trusted general to reinforce and connect existing border barriers, creating a bulwark against nomadic marauders. Made of rammed earth and rubble, these fortifications became the basis for the Great Wall , most of which would be rebuilt in stone and brick during the 15th century under the Ming dynasty.

As the grandeur of his tomb complex suggests, Qin Shi Huang kept an eye on posterity. But he also longed to extend his life on earth—perhaps indefinitely. Alchemists informed the emperor that magical herbs could be found on what they claimed were three Islands of the Immortals in the East China Sea. The emissaries most likely to gain entry to this mystical realm, they asserted, were uncorrupted children. Around 219 B.C.E., Qin Shi Huang reportedly dispatched several thousand youngsters to search for the islands. They never returned. A few years later, the emperor sent three alchemists to retrieve the herbs. One of them made it back, recounting a tale of a giant fish guarding the islands. Legend has it that the emperor resolved to lead the next search party himself; on the expedition, he used a repeating crossbow to kill a huge fish. But instead of discovering life-preserving elixirs on his journey, the emperor apparently contracted a fatal illness.

As he lay dying in 210 B.C.E., 49-year-old Qin Shi Huang decreed that his estranged eldest son, Fusu , should inherit the empire. The choice undercut the ambitions of a powerful royal counselor, Zhao Gao , who believed he could govern the country behind the scenes if a more malleable successor were installed. To conceal Qin Shi Huang’s death—and disguise the stench of a decomposing corpse—until the body returned to the capital, Zhao Gao took on a cargo of salted fish. The delaying tactic worked. Once Zhao Gao managed to return to Xianyang, he was able to operate on his home turf. He managed to transfer power to Ying Huhai , a younger, weaker son.

Ultimately, however, the scheme failed. Zhao Gao could not maintain order, and the country descended into civil war. The Qin dynasty outlived Qin Shi Huang by only four years. The second emperor died by suicide; Zhao Gao eventually was killed. Various rebel forces coalesced into a new dynasty, the Western Han .

For archaeologists, one indicator that Qin rule had collapsed suddenly was the extensive damage to the terra-cotta army. As order broke down, marauding forces raided the pits where clay soldiers stood guard and plundered their real weapons. Raging fires, possibly set deliberately, followed the ransacking, weakening support pillars for wooden ceilings, which crashed down and smashed the figures. Some 2,000 years later, archaeologists discovered charring on the walls of one pit.

Throughout recorded Chinese history, the first emperor’s Epang Palace —located on the Wei River , south of ancient Xianyang—was synonymous with ostentation. The structure was said to have been the most lavish dwelling ever constructed, with an upper-floor gallery that could seat 10,000 and a network of covered walkways that led to distant mountains to the south.

“All Chinese people who can read, including middle-school students, believed that the Qin dynasty collapsed because it put so much money into the Epang Palace,” says Duan. “According to excavation work from 2003, we found it was actually never built—only the base. Above it was nothing.” Duan notes that if the palace had been erected and demolished, as historians thought, there would be potsherds (ceramic fragments) and telltale changes in soil color. “But tests found nothing,” he says. “It is so famous a symbol of Chinese culture for so long a time, showing how cruel and greedy the first emperor was—and archaeologists found it was a lie.” Duan also doubts accounts of Qin Shi Huang’s expedition for life-prolonging herbs. His version is more prosaic: “I believe that the first emperor did not want to die. When he was sick, he sent people to find special medicines.”

The emperor’s tomb lies beneath a forested hill, surrounded by cultivated fields about a half-mile from the museum. Out of reverence for an imperial resting place and concerns about preserving what might be unearthed there, the site has never been excavated . According to a description written a century after the emperor’s death, the tomb contains a wealth of wonders, including man-made streambeds contoured to resemble the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, flowing with shimmering, quicksilver mercury that mimics coursing water. (Analysis of soil in the mound has indeed revealed a high level of mercury .)

Answers about the tomb are not likely to emerge anytime soon. “I have a dream that one day science can develop so that we can tell what is here without disturbing the emperor, who has slept here for 2,000 years,” says Wu Yongqi , former director of the original Museum of Qin Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses. “I don’t think we have good scientific techniques to protect what we find in the underground palace. Especially if we find paper, silk or textiles from plants or animals; it would be very bad if they have been kept in a balanced condition for 2,000 years, but suddenly they would vanish in a very short time.” He cites another consideration: “For all Chinese people, he is our ancestor, and for what he did for China, we cannot unearth his tomb just because archaeologists or people doing tourism want to know what is buried there.”

Whatever future excavations reveal about Qin Shi Huang’s enigmatic nature, some things seem unlikely to change. The emperor’s importance as a seminal figure of history won’t be diminished. And the mysteries that surround his life will likely never be completely resolved.

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16.3-A Call to Freedom 16.4-Life During the Civil War

9f Effects of the war #unionwon #goUSA #puttingthepiecesback.

Objectives Analyze how the war changed the economy and society in the North and South. Discuss how northern and southern soldiers experienced the war.

TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas. Life During the Civil War.

24.1 Those that Fought On the Left Hand Side. Standards  Study the lives of leaders (e.g., Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee) and.

Chapter 4 Lesson 2 Life in Battle Life at Home. Vocabulary Camp Home Front Civilian.

DO NOW: Journal #2- Describe in 3-4 sentences what you think life was like as a soldier during the Civil War. Then, describe what you think life was like.

Life During the War Chapter 2 Lesson 2.

Jeopardy CausesBattlesPeople Reconstruction North vs. South Q $100 Q $200 Q $300 Q $400 Q $500 Q $100 Q $200 Q $300 Q $400 Q $500 Final Jeopardy.

CH THE WAR BEHIND THE LINES AMERICAN HISTORY.

The Civil War Begins. Union and Confederate Forces Clash Fort Sumter One of the four remaining southern forts controlled by the Union. Confederates opened.

Section 3-Life During the War. I can contrast the effects of war on regional economies.  I can evaluate the soldiers’ wartime experiences.

Life During Wartime Chapter 11 Section 3.

By: Valerie Kubalak Period 5.  Families were divided.  Women took up new roles.  There were child soldiers along with elder soldiers.  Many wounded.

Life During the Civil War Chapter 11 Section 3. Analyze how the war changed the economy and society in the North and South. Discuss how northern and southern.

General Effects of the Civil War. Families and friends were often pitted against one another. Southern troops became increasingly younger and poorly equipped.

Chapter 25 Section 1 The Cold War Begins Section 3 Life During the War Chapter 11 Section 3 Life During the War.

Chapter 16, section 4 Life During the Civil War. The Lives of Soldiers  A soldier’s day was dull, a routine of drills, bad food, marches and rain. 

Life During the Civil War. Wartime Economies South: –Extreme food shortages due to failed transportation system and Union occupation. –Many soldiers began.

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION – an executive order given by President Lincoln ORDERING the freeing all slaves in the Confederate states Did not free any slaves.

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Rambo Is Based on a Real-Life World War II Veteran

'First Blood's dark tone held more truth than you realize.

The Big Picture

• First Blood is a rare action film that tackles trauma and loss, representing the post-traumatic stress disorder faced by many soldiers.
• First Blood's source material is inspired by World War II veteran Audie Murphy, but the film diverges in brutality and focuses on Rambo's past.
• While the franchise lost its way with jingoistic sequels, First Blood serves as a timeless classic honoring the struggles of veterans.

The 1982 action classic First Blood occupies a unique place in cinematic history, even compared to the other films within its franchise. While the Rambo sequels turned Sylvester Stallone ’s titular protagonist into a patriotic, heroic action hero who fought to preserve the American way of life, the first entry in the series is a grounded character drama about trauma and loss. The film served as a representation of post-traumatic stress disorder that a generation of soldiers dealt with in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. While fictionalized, First Blood tackled serious systematic issues about the mistreatment of veterans .

While Stallone played a major role in shaping the direction and tone of both First Blood and its sequels, the first entry in the series was based on the novel of the same name by author David Morell . The differences between the film and novel are extensive ; the novel features even more brutality, a much darker tone, and more time dedicated to examining Rambo’s past. The realism and sensitivity within Morrell’s writing is understandable, as First Blood was loosely inspired by the story of the World War II veteran Audie Murphy .

First Blood

A veteran Green Beret is forced by a cruel Sheriff and his deputies to flee into the mountains and wage an escalating one-man war against his pursuers.

Who Is the World War Two Veteran That John Rambo Is Based On?

Born in 1925, Audie Murphy was an American soldier who received national recognition for his service in World War II. Like many young Americans, Murphy joined the fight against the Nazis after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941; while he was too young at the time to officially enlist in military service, his sister helped him falsify records so that he could serve his nation. Despite being turned down for service by both the Marine Corps and the Navy, Murphy was able to enlist in the United States Army. He served in many of the most critical campaigns of the conflict, including the 1943 invasion of Sicily, the 1944 Battle of Anzio, and the successful liberation of France. By the time that Germany and Japan both officially surrendered to the Allied Forces in 1945, Murphy had received every valor award allocated by the U.S. Army, and additional honors from the Belgian and French services.

While the conflict proved to be one of the bloodiest in world history, Murphy earned significant exposure to violence within his service; by the time that the war was wrapped up, he was credited with over 250 kills. Like the character of John Rambo , Murphy dealt with severe post-traumatic stress disorder in the years after the war . Often sleeping with a pistol by his side, Murphy suffered from bouts of severe depression, vomiting, and fatigue; while he took sleeping pills to help him cope with graphic nightmares, his reliance on prescription medication gave him additional struggles throughout the subsequent decade. Murphy’s friends reported that his personality could change at a moment’s notice, and that he would often resort to violence as a result of not being able to communicate.

Sylvester Stallone’s ‘The Godfather’ Rejection Led to ‘Rocky’

Audie murphy’s story inspired ‘first blood'.

While Murphy’s struggles with PTSD led him down a dark path, the decorated veteran was able to shed light on his experiences and become a cultural icon. Murphy wrote a 1949 memoir titled To Hell and Back which detailed his World War II service and subsequent struggles. Murphy later became an accomplished actor known for playing heroic characters . After playing a version of himself in the 1955 adaptation of To Hell and Back, Murphy starred in several classic westerns. By the time that his cinematic career wrapped up in the late 1960s, Murphy was almost as well known for his film roles as he was for his military service.

Murphy’s films had a significant impact on many viewers, as his story of trauma and perseverance was quite inspirational. Morrell was reminded of Murphy’s experiences when he began writing First Blood . At the time, Morrell was an English professor at the University of Iowa, and had many students that were enlisted for service in the Vietnam War. Seeing them struggle to express their feelings about the violence they experienced caused Murphy to think about Murphy, who had been one of his favorite actors growing up. First Blood was written as a dire warning about the dangers of not giving these brave veterans the resources and therapy that they desperately needed.

The First Blood novel ends on a very bleak note with Rambo dying after his battle with chief Wilfred Teasle. However, the First Blood film ends with a somewhat optimistic message about Rambo’s potential recovery. After finally being given the chance to discuss why he's so traumatized, Rambo breaks down in tears and agrees to surrender to the authorities. It’s an intimate moment that features some of the best acting of Stallone’s career. While it doesn't suggest that the road ahead will be easy for Rambo, it does signify that he’s taking the appropriate steps forward.

The ‘Rambo’ Franchise Lost Its Way

First Blood was unique among 1980s action movies, as it avoided clichés in favor of a realistic depiction of post-war America. Unfortunately, the Rambo sequels transformed the series into the type of jingoistic, nationalistic narrative that the first film had been intentionally subverting . In Rambo: First Blood Part II , the titular character is enlisted by the United States government to take down enemy terrorists overseas. While this could have been a thoughtful way to analyze what returning to a combat zone does to Rambo, the film drops any depth in favor of explosive action scenes.

Although the franchise eventually lost its way, First Blood continues to give insight into the importance of rehabilitation and therapy . The context may be tied to the Vietnam War, but Rambo’s conflict with authority is relevant to any era of warfare . It’s a timeless classic that honors the sacrifices that generations of veterans, including Murphy, experienced once they returned home.

‘First Blood’ Is One of Stallone’s Best Performances

While the overwhelming success of the Rocky franchise had already made him a household name, Stallone’s performance in First Blood proved he was a far more depthful actor than many of his critics realized . The film weaponized his physicality to show how detached Rambo was from reality; despite the incredible strength he possesses, Rambo doesn’t know how to adapt to a reality where he’s no longer fighting for his life. It showed a remarkable level of sensitivity on Stallone’s part that is rarely seen in other action films of the 1980s. First Blood had become a classic as a result of his powerful work.

Although the novel’s dark ending was removed from the film adaptation, First Blood embraced the brutality that was essential to the original source material. Director Ted Kotcheff refrained from incorporating any superficial action sequences in favor of a more realistic depiction of combat. It’s notable that each conflict Rambo engages in is both a physical and emotional endurance test; returning to a world of violence serves as a frightening reminder of the horrors that he has already endured whilst serving in the Vietnam War.

First Blood is streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.

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Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American Hostage, Is Seen in a Hamas Video

The video appeared to be the first time that Mr. Goldberg-Polin, who was grievously injured in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack, has been seen alive since he was taken captive.

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By Liam Stack

reporting from Jerusalem

• April 24, 2024

Hamas released a video on Wednesday apparently showing Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American dual citizen who has been held hostage since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. It appeared to be the first time that Mr. Goldberg-Polin, who was grievously injured in the attack, has been shown to be alive since his captivity began.

It is not clear when the video was filmed, but in it Mr. Goldberg-Polin, who was 23 when he was abducted, says he has been held hostage for nearly 200 days, suggesting the video was made recently. He also wishes his parents a happy holiday, which may be a reference to the weeklong Passover holiday currently being celebrated.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin’s parents later released a videotaped statement saying they were relieved to see their son alive but worried about his health, along with the health of the scores of other hostages still believed to be held in Gaza.

“We are here today with a plea to all of the leaders of the parties who have been negotiating to date — this includes Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Hamas and Israel — be brave, lean in, seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region,” his father, Jonathan Polin, said. His mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, urged her son to “stay strong, survive.”

In a video message , Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the spokesman for Israel’s military, told Mr. Goldberg-Polin’s family that Israel would do all it could to “bring your son Hersh and all our hostages back home.”

“This is an urgent call for action. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find our hostages,” he said.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin was attending the Tribe of Nova music festival in Re’im, Israel, when Hamas gunmen attacked, killing hundreds. He lost part of his arm while defending an emergency shelter alongside his friend Aner Shapira, who was killed, according to survivors of the attack.

Rights groups and international law experts say that a hostage video is, by definition, made under duress, and the statements in it are usually coerced. Israeli officials have called the videos a form of “psychological warfare,” and experts say their production can constitute a war crime.

The circumstances of how the video was filmed were unclear, and the footage appears to have been edited. It was released on Hamas’s social media channels at about 5 p.m. in Israel.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin refers several times to his need for medical attention and shows his injured arm to the camera. The October attack left him “struggling to survive with serious injuries all over my body,” he says in the video, adding that during his captivity he has been “without water, food or sun and without treatment I have needed for so long.”

He also criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and members of his government. “At a time when you are holding holiday meals with your families, think of us, the hostages who are still here in hell, under the ground,” he says.

The Hostages Families Forum said in a statement that “the hostages must be the top priority.”

“This distressing video serves as an urgent call to take swift and decisive action to resolve this horrific humanitarian crisis and ensure the safe return of our loved ones,” the group said.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin, a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, was born in Berkeley, Calif., and was in elementary school when the family moved to Israel from Richmond, Va. He was taken captive into Gaza after part of his arm was blown off during an assault on a roadside bomb shelter .

Members of his family pieced together at least some of what happened to him through other families and survivors of the attack, and by reviewing texts and phone conversations. They have said they believed he was in desperate need of medical attention because of the injuries to his arm, which are believed to have been caused by a grenade.

In a guest essay written for The New York Times’ opinion section shortly after his abduction, his mother described her son as a gentle and kind person who swam laps to raise money for a charity in Africa.

“I don’t know if he is dead or alive or if I will ever see him again,” she wrote.

His mother told reporters that her family would mark Passover this week with a Seder and “they have been very clear that if 15 minutes in we just can’t do it, and we need to cry, then we will cry.”

Mr. Goldberg-Polin ends the video by directly addressing his parents.

“I love you so much and miss you,” he told them. “It won’t be a happy holiday for me, but I wish you one.”

Malachy Browne , Johnatan Reiss and Isabel Kershner contributed reporting.

Liam Stack is a Times reporter covering the Israel-Hamas war from Jerusalem. More about Liam Stack

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

As diplomats converged in the Middle East, seeking a cease-fire in Gaza , Israel wrestled with whether to go forward with a ground invasion of Rafah , a city in the enclave’s south where more than a million Palestinians have fled the war.

Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants  for senior government officials on charges related to the conflict with Hamas.

World Central Kitchen said that it would resume operations in Gaza  with a local team of Palestinian aid workers, nearly a month after seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli attack.

Campus Protests in the U.S.: On quads and lawns from coast to coast, U.S. colleges are grappling with a groundswell of student activism  over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Administrators are having to make controversial decisions .

Cracking Down on Protests: Grief and rage over the Gaza war and Israel have led to demonstrations across the Arab world. Arrests suggest governments fear the outrage could boomerang .

Imagining Gaza’s Reconstruction: International development agencies have been meeting with Middle East business interests and urban planners to map out an economic future for the territory .

Showing Liberal Dismay: Representative Mark Pocan, the progressive Democrat from a rural, mostly white Wisconsin district, is determined to let President Biden know that it is not just young people of color who are concerned about the war .

Prince Harry Dons Medals to Present Soldier of the Year Award in Special Virtual Appearance

The Duke of Sussex presented Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks with the honor during a video appearance on April 25

Prince Harry is honoring a special member of the armed forces community.

On Wednesday, April 24, the Duke of Sussex, 39, paid tribute to his "friend" Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks as he presented her with the prestigious Military Times Soldier of the Year Award.

Speaking in a virtual appearance, which appeared to have been filmed in the backyard of his Montecito, Calif. home, Harry wore four medals on his chest as he described Marks as a “beacon of inspiration.” 

“I first met Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks at the Invictus Games in Orlando 2016, where I presented her with not one, but four gold medals that she'd won in swimming,” Harry’s speech began. “To me, she epitomizes the courage, resilience and determination represented across our service community. And this is not just because of her swimming abilities.”

"Ellie has courageously overcome every obstacle to cross her path,” he continued. “She has turned her pain into purpose and led through compassion and willpower, showing others that the impossible is indeed possible.”

Related: Prince Harry Surprises Diana Award Honorees, Says Princess 'Would Be So Proud of You All'

According to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s official website , the combat medic — who joined the U.S. Army in 2008 at the age of 17 — has faced “significant challenges” in her career, including bilateral hip injuries “which would shape the rest of her trajectory in the Army.”

“Despite the injuries she endured during her deployment as a medical assistant in Iraq – along with numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many – she has persevered tirelessly, becoming the first woman in the Army’s world-class athlete program, as well as the first swimmer the program had ever seen,” Harry explained.

“She’s also taken her recovery a step further, using her experiences and achievements to inspire and assist others in their mental and physical journey into sport, ensuring those who can’t see a way out or through are introduced to the medicine of sport that saved her too.”

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Related: Prince Harry 'Gets Recharged' at the Invictus Games: 'He's with His People Now,’ Athlete Says

The Duke then went on to praise Marks for the support she has shown to the Invictus Games , which he founded in 2014, including coaching teams from both Ukraine and Colombia “when they’ve needed it the most.”

“Ellie, you embody the Invictus spirit through your selfless service. You know that sport doesn’t just save lives, it transforms them for the better, and in finding your own cure you’ve helped countless brothers and sisters in staying alive. You’re unwavering commitment serves as a beacon of inspiration, offering hope and setting a powerful example for others to follow,” he continued, adding, "I am honored to call you my friend and can't thank you enough for being you."

Harry served in the military for 10 years and undertook two tours of Afghanistan during that time. He first served in Helmand Province in 2007 and 2008, before later returning for a second tour in 2012.

His medals include the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, which is awarded to those who served in active duty in Afghanistan, the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal. 

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USM, Native Plant Society Hosting Doug Tallamy for Presentation on Biodiversity May 3

Mon, 04/29/2024 - 03:41pm | By: David Tisdale

The Mississippi Native Plant Society (MNPS) is partnering with The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences (BEES) and the USM Center for STEM Education to bring best-selling author and biodiversity advocate Dr. Doug Tallamy to speak at the Joe Paul Student Theater (Thad Cochran Center, second floor) on the Hattiesburg campus Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public; a book signing will follow Dr. Tallamy’s presentation.  

Dr. Tallamy is a renowned entomologist, ecologist and conservationist and professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. He has authored best-selling books, including Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants and Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard . His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, Western Carolina University, The Garden Club of America, and The American Horticultural Association. He is co-founder of Homegrown National Park.

“We’re honored to bring Dr. Tallamy to Hattiesburg so that he may share his vital message of restoring biodiversity to improve planetary health,” said Nadine Phillips, a member of the MNPS and an interlibrary loan librarian/assistant teaching professor with USM University Libraries. “His extensive research findings have led to an evolution in gardening and habitat management across the United States and Canada.”

The MNPS was formed in 1980 to provide a forum for learning about the state's ecosystems and the plants that exist within them, provide educational opportunities, and encourage the conservation and utilization of native plants. Dr. Tallamy’s talk will also serve as the kick-off event for the MSNPS Spring 2024 Member meeting, which will take place the next day, Saturday, May 4, in Cook Library Gallery Room 209A on the USM Hattiesburg campus, beginning at 9 a.m. with registration and refreshments. New members are welcome to join for only $10 (annual membership fee).

For more information, contact Nadine Phillips.

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A Colombian army helicopter has crashed in a rural area of the country's north, killing 9 soldiers

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — An army helicopter carrying supplies to troops crashed in a rural area in northern Colombia on Monday, killing nine soldiers on board, the country’s armed forces said.

In a statement, the Colombian military said the helicopter was taking the supplies to the municipality of Santa Rosa del Sur, an area that has recently experienced fighting between the National Liberation Army guerrilla group and the drug trafficking group known as the Gulf Clan.

The military statement described the helicopter crash as an accident.

“I regret the death of the nine passengers on board the army’s helicopter” Colombian president Gustavo Petro wrote on X on Monday. “It was supplying troops…that were conducting operations against the Gulf Clan.”

The military said the helicopter crashed around 1:50 pm local time. It was an MI-17 Russian-built chopper that is often used to carry troops and supplies.

Two officers were among the victims of the crash, which also included two sergeants and three privates. None of the passengers on the helicopter survived.

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Life of a WWI Soldier

Jul 23, 2014

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Life of a WWI Soldier. Living in the trenches. A look inside the trenches. Trench Rats. Trench Foot. Constant exposure to water and mud did not allow the feet to dry. Many times they became numb and eventually, the tissue of the foot died. British troops began coating the feet with wax.

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Presentation Transcript

Life of a WWI Soldier Living in the trenches

A look inside the trenches

Trench Rats

Trench Foot Constant exposure to water and mud did not allow the feet to dry. Many times they became numb and eventually, the tissue of the foot died. British troops began coating the feet with wax.

Trench Lice… • Men in the trenches suffered from lice. One soldier writing after the war described them as "pale fawn in colour, and they left blotchy red bite marks all over the body." They also created a sour; stale smell. Various methods were used to remove the lice. A lighted candle was fairly effective but the skill of burning the lice without burning your clothes was only learnt with practice. George Coppard described how this worked: "The things lay in the seams of trousers, in the deep furrows of long thick woolly pants, and seemed impregnable in their deep entrenchments. A lighted candle applied where they were thickest made them pop like Chinese crackers. After a session of this, my face would be covered with small blood spots from extra big fellows which had popped too vigorously."

New Weapons Made WWI more deadly than before

Gas AttacksMustard and Chlorine

Gas Attacks

Machine Guns • Unlike today, machine guns were not the main weapons of soldiers. They needed 4-6 men to operate them in 1914 and they had to be positioned on a flat surface. They could fire up to 400 rounds per minute.

Tanks and Flame throwers

Long Range Cannons

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Nicole Kidman, who ‘makes movies better,’ gets AFI Life Achievement Award

The Associated Press

April 28, 2024, 9:15 PM

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Morgan Freeman spoke the words, but pretty much everyone who took the stage at the presentation of the AFI Life Achievement Award agreed: “ Nicole Kidman . She makes movies better.”

The line came in a video parody of Kidman’s AMC Theatres “we make movies better” ad that opened the Saturday night ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. It got huge laughs from the crowd of multigenerational A-listers there to honor the 40-year career of the 56-year-old Australian that has included roles in “Moulin Rouge,” “Eyes Wide Shut” and an Oscar-winning turn in “The Hours.”

Meryl Streep , Kidman’s “The Hours” co-star who presented to Streep the Life Achievement Award that she won herself in 2004, got laughs nearly as big when, in a mock-boastful voice, she described the hardest part of being “incessantly called the greatest actress of my generation.”

It’s when you come up against someone else who is “really, really, really, really, really, really great” and you realize they did things you couldn’t do, as happened with Kidman the first day they worked together on the HBO series “Big Little Lies,” Streep said.

Streep and their “Big Little Lies” co-star Reese Witherspoon both did spot-on, Australian-accented impressions of Kidman that had the audience in stitches.

Streep also drew tears from Kidman when describing what she believed motivated her.

“People call it bravery when an actress bares all and leaps off into the unknown and she dives deep into the darker parts of what it is to be a human being,” Streep said. “But I don’t think it’s bravery. I think it’s love. I think she just loves it.”

Kidman teared up for the first time in the evening when her husband and fellow Australian, singer Keith Urban, said she showed him “what love in action really looks like” when his substance abuse problems emerged almost immediately after they wed in 2006.

“Four months into our marriage, I’m in rehab for three months,” Urban said, looking at Kidman where she sat on a dais with their two daughters and other family. “Nic pushed through every negative voice, I’m sure even some of her own, and she chose love. And here we are 18 years later.”

Kidman said the night was the first time she allowed their teenage daughters to join her on a red carpet. She also has two children with her first husband, Tom Cruise.

She accepted the AFI award in the same venue where she accepted her Oscar in 2003 for playing Virginia Woolf in “The Hours.”

She thanked by name every director she has worked with, including Stanley Kubrick, Jane Campion, Baz Luhrmann, Sofia Coppola, Yorgos Lanthimos, Sydney Pollack and Lars von Trier.

“It is a privilege to make films. And glorious to have made films and television with these storytellers who allowed me to run wild and be free and play all of these unconventional women,” Kidman said, wearing a floor-length, glittering-gold gown. “Thank you for making me better at my craft and giving me a place, however temporary, in this world.”

It was announced back in November of 2022 that Kidman would receive the award, first handed out in 1973, whose previous winners include Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, Gene Kelly, Sidney Poitier, Barbara Streisand, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington and Julie Andrews.

The ceremony originally was scheduled for June of 2023, but delayed because of Hollywood’s strikes . It will air on TNT on June 17.

Kidman also was nominated for Academy Awards for “Moulin Rouge,” “Rabbit Hole,” “Lion,” and “Being the Ricardos,” whose director, Aaron Sorkin, also sang her praises at the ceremony.

Others honoring her included Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Zoe Saldana and Mike Myers, who came on stage in disguise in one of the eerie orgy masks from “Eyes Wide Shut.”

Kidman began her career as a teen in Australia in films including “Bush Christmas” and “BMX Bandits.” Naomi Watts, a friend from those days, described meeting Kidman when both had to sit in a waiting room in bathing suits for two hours at an audition. Aussies Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Cate Blanchett all gave video tributes to the first from their country to win the award.

Kidman said in a video played at the ceremony that her appearance in the 1989 thriller “Dead Calm” brought her to the attention of, among others, Cruise, the only time his name was spoken Saturday night.

She had her breakthrough Hollywood role alongside him in 1990’s “Days of Thunder” — they would marry the same year — and also starred together in 1992’s “Far and Away” and in 1999 in Kubrick’s final film, “Eyes Wide Shut.”

She divorced Cruise in 2001, but her stardom only grew. Some of her biggest roles, and her Oscar, were still to come.

The role most often cited as a favorite during the awards show Saturday night was her musical turn in Luhrmann’s 2001 “Moulin Rouge.”

Freeman, the 2011 AFI honoree, in his in-person presentation that followed the video spoof, serenaded Kidman with the modified Elton John lines she sings in the film: “How wonderful life is, now you’re in the world.”

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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