May We Suggest? This post contains recommendations from a CPL librarian. To get your own customized recommendation, just fill out the May We Suggest form — you can expect results within 10 days. All suggestions can be found on the May We Suggest blog or by liking May We Suggest on facebook.

Lest We Forget Movies for Memorial Day

May 21, 2009 | madame librarian

Memorial Day was established in 1868 following the end of the American Civil War as General Orders No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic Headquarters:

II. It is the purpose of the Commander in Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

Over the past two centuries, wars continue to be fought, and Hollywood has immortalized them on film:

Gettysburg [videodisc] by Turner Pictures presents a Mace /Neufeld/Robert Rehme presentation of an Esparza/Katz production ; a film by Ronald F. Maxwell ; screenplay by Ronald F. Maxwell ; produced by Robert Katz, Moctesuma Esparza ; directed by Ronald F. Maxwell

Johnny got his gun [videodisc] by Roxbury Entertainment ; Arch Oboler Productions

Letters from Iwo Jima [videodisc] by Amblin Entertainment ; DreamWorks SKG ; Malpaso Productions ; Warner Bros. Pictures

Pork Chop Hill [videodisc] by Melville Productions, Inc.

Born on the fourth of July [videodisc] by Universal Pictures presents an A. Kitman Ho & Ixtlan production ; an Oliver Stone picture

Jarhead [videodisc] by Universal Pictures ; Red Wagon Productions ; Neal Street Productions ; MP Kappa Productions