WASHINGTON, D.C. — National History Day recently announced the launch of phase one of a new teacher resource, www.abmceducation.org. Ms. Erica Swenson, a teacher at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School in Poland, is one of the contributing teachers who is helping to develop resources that will assist educators in teaching World War II. The resource presents an
interdisciplinary approach to the war in northern Europe and is a major educational initiative from the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Swenson has been studying the story of Pfc. Stanley Victor Clark, a member of the U.S. Army’s 401st Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Pfc. Clark was one of six brothers to serve in World War II. In the Army, Clark volunteered for the Gilder Infantry Regiment. He landed in Normandy as well as Operation Market Garden, the Allied airborne landings in Netherlands in September 1944 that aimed to move forces across the Rhine River. He was killed in action outside of Zetten, Holland, on Oct. 9, 1944. He is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery in the Netherlands.

Ms. Swenson has been working on the resource as part of a contract with the American Battle Monuments Commission’s domestic education program for World War II in Northern Europe, administered by National History Day and the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.

The purpose of the contract is to develop a teacher institute on the teaching of World War II in Europe that will result in sound lesson plans and teaching ideas that utilize ABMC’s sites and resources.
The first phase of the website, launched in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of V-E Day, features profiles on ABMC cemeteries in Northern Europe.

In July, the teachers will engage in a two-week institute in Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, following the path of the Allied troops who fought through northern Europe 70 years ago.
The resource will be expanded in November 2015 to include interdisciplinary teaching modules developed by Swenson and the other teachers selected to participate in the institute. Each lesson module will link to the story of a fallen hero – a member of the Armed Forces who died and is buried or memorialized in one of the six military cemeteries that the group will visit.