Scrapping Memorial Sites / Battlefields, etc.

Caylynn

Caylynn

New member
Anyone else have problems scrapping photos from these types of sites? War memorials, battlefields, etc. I have a bunch of photos that were taken of various Somme battlefields and memorials, which I was trying to scrap as July 1st this year is the 100th anniversary of the first day of the battle of the Somme, including Beaumont-Hamel, which involved a huge loss of life for Newfoundlanders.

I guess because of the solemnity of these sites, and wanting to do them proper reverence, I'm having a hard time scrapping the photos. Everything I put down somehow seems inadequate.

I wouldn't even know where to start with my photos of Dachau. It somehow even seemed disrespectful to take photos of such a place, but I do feel it is important to never forget the horrors that occurred.

Anyone else have similar struggles with such photos and topics? Perhaps these are times where it's best to let the photos and text speak, and use minimal embellishments? How do others approach such topics and photos? Or do you not scrap them at all?
 
Could you do a minimalist look for those layouts? Pocket scrapping type layouts where it's mainly the photos with journal; cards/title cards/quotes cards?

When I scrap the Vietnam Memorial and other war memorials, I plan on taking the pocket scrapbooking route for most of them.


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Caylynn said:
Anyone else have problems scrapping photos from these types of sites? War memorials, battlefields, etc. I have a bunch of photos that were taken of various Somme battlefields and memorials, which I was trying to scrap as July 1st this year is the 100th anniversary of the first day of the battle of the Somme, including Beaumont-Hamel, which involved a huge loss of life for Newfoundlanders.

I guess because of the solemnity of these sites, and wanting to do them proper reverence, I'm having a hard time scrapping the photos. Everything I put down somehow seems inadequate.

I wouldn't even know where to start with my photos of Dachau. It somehow even seemed disrespectful to take photos of such a place, but I do feel it is important to never forget the horrors that occurred.

Anyone else have similar struggles with such photos and topics? Perhaps these are times where it's best to let the photos and text speak, and use minimal embellishments? How do others approach such topics and photos? Or do you not scrap them at all?
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Great question.... and I guess it depends on personal preference. Here's a LO I did on the Vietnam Wall that included no journaling at all:



Here's one I did about Ford's Theater, which included a fair amount of journaling, some of which I looked up. I was looking for another page that I did about the Holocaust Museum but then again... I don't think I actually did one. Just have the photos. For that though, I am thinking that I would look up some of the facts and figures and approach the journaling that way. That way you're using the LO kind of a teaching tool.

 
Thanks ladies. Those are some good ideas. Thanks for sharing your LOs, Lori - those are great inspiration!
 
I agree. But it is definitely part of our history and I feel it should also be preserved and remembered. I actually enjoy doing layouts for these because I feel I'm honoring them.
Here's some I did.










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Oh these are great examples! I definitely understand where you're coming from, Caylynn. I don't think I've scrapped anything from those sites, though I have a lot of photos. I totally agree with what Colleen said and maybe start out with a simpler page design to get you started. And if you have a ton of photos and you want to branch out then maybe you'll be more comfortable doing more elaborate or even artistic pages. I think that's a wonderful way to honor these memories.
 
Okay, I've finished my first one. Went with minimalist, just a paper and a few poppies from We Remember by Key Lime Digi Designs. I bought that kit during iNSD with these photos in mind, so now I'm finally making use of it.



And thanks Jennifer and Jennifer! Those are also great pages, Jennifer. Thanks for sharing and for more inspiration!
 
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Those are amazing examples! Caylynn, your LO came out fantastic! I like the idea of minimalistic although it's not my style. I'm one of those people who believes that it's {almost} always okay to take photos (being discreet when needed). Here are a few that I've done...







 
Ultimately, I think it depends on how you scrap it. Are you scrapping it with respect or are you making it a mockery? I've never thought about not scrapping, not feeling like I can capture the moment/feeling of that area. This post made me stop to think how I scrap those important places in history that we've visited and taken photos. I want to preserve the raw thought, the feelings and the overall tribute to that piece of history.

Here's a few that I've done in the past, which I think all show respect and reverence to the importance of that piece of history




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I know I've scrapped Arlington, but I can't find the layouts that I've scrapped. My favorite place in DC was Arlington. There's SO much history there and so many stories to be told. Just scrap with respect and your layout won't be irreverent or a mockery. I'm sure the end will be a raw feeling of the moment you've witnessed <3

I found this one, it's an old one
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Here is one from when the government shut down and they put signs around DC saying the monuments, on public property were closed. My daughter and I went in to town and took photos of the signs, documenting the govt shutdown. I also took her to the Vietnam Wall, even though the govt was shut down, there were National Park Rangers making sure the monument was respected. In my journaling, I write about how eerily the city felt, yet protected by the few park rangers volunteering their time to keep the monuments safe.
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Another one of my girls on the landmarks at Fort Benning, GA including right outside the cemetery and the National Infantry Museum.
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Im posting these because while they aren't somber and deep, they were places that we've lived/visited and I want my children to remember these places. Some of them include journaling, some of them don't, but we know we were there, saw it and experienced the emotions.
 
Wow! Such a powerful thread and I love all the layouts! They all are definitely respectful!
 
Thank you for all your thoughts and layouts! Such great inspiration

Wendy (Neverland Scraps), my concern wasn't so much about bring irreverant, but more like feeling that the pages had to be "perfect" to do such solemn sites justice, and so I would just keep starting over with the layouts, not liking anything I had produced, feeling that what I had done just was somehow inadequate. But now that I've started, I've realized that I will never achieve perfection, but that I can document these sites and share my experiences there.
 
This has been any amazing post. I have filed away many ideas for when I scrap the historical sites that were mentioned. You ladies continue to amaze me with your talent. :)
 
I have done several myself of places especially recently since we visited France. I will share some with you. And Amazing job on all the layouts ladies.













These ones aren't posted here at GS
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While visiting Gettysburg in May, I took photos of a lot quotes that were on plaques around the cemetery. I intend to use a lot of those quotes in my journaling.
 
Well, I finally identified my other problem with scrapping such sites, well, at least Canadian ones. I haven't been able to find a single Canadian military kit, or Canadian Remembrance Day. U.S. kits, with their eagles and flags just don't work. I need poppies, maple leaves, In Flanders Fields, etc. There are some "fun" Canadian kits out there, but they don't have the items or the feel that I need to scrap our memorials, such as Vimy Ridge or the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

I do understand why such kits don't exist - I'm sure there's not a big market for them. But it is certainly making it challenging, at least for me, to scrap all the Canadian memorials I have. I wish I had the choice of kits that you Americans have!
 
Caylynn said:
Well, I finally identified my other problem with scrapping such sites, well, at least Canadian ones. I haven't been able to find a single Canadian military kit, or Canadian Remembrance Day. U.S. kits, with their eagles and flags just don't work. I need poppies, maple leaves, In Flanders Fields, etc. There are some "fun" Canadian kits out there, but they don't have the items or the feel that I need to scrap our memorials, such as Vimy Ridge or the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

I do understand why such kits don't exist - I'm sure there's not a big market for them. But it is certainly making it challenging, at least for me, to scrap all the Canadian memorials I have. I wish I had the choice of kits that you Americans have!
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Caylynn, I imagine that would be very frustrating. I know that Tracey from Clever Monkey Graphics released a Canada Day add-on to her latest American Dream kit...let me find out if she's going to sell it separately :)
 
Here is one Canada kit that I know of. The animals are silly & cute, but I think the rest of the pieces could probably be used for a nice, reverent LO.
 
craftytam said:
Caylynn, I imagine that would be very frustrating. I know that Tracey from Clever Monkey Graphics released a Canada Day add-on to her latest American Dream kit...let me find out if she's going to sell it separately :)
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Thanks! I do have that kit (and made a great RCMP layout with it) but it doesn't quite do the trick for the Vimy Memorial, for instance. Similarly, I have Connie Prince's Travelogue Canada, which is great for a bunch of my vacation photos from right here in Canada, but not so great for Beaumont-Hamel and Battle of the Somme sites.

I've done several layouts now with We Remember by Key Lime Digi Designs, which is a great kit, but I would love to have more options. Maybe I just have to wait until November and hope someone puts out a Remembrance Day kit! All the ones I've found through google searches (other than We Remember) seem to no longer be available. Probably not a popular topic or big money maker, so I understand the scarcity.
 
I completely understand. I run into that problem when I am wanting to scrap my husband's Marine Corps photos. There are Navy, Army, and Air Force kits, but I can never find USMC kits. Their camouflage is different just to name one thing! Could you mix and match kits? Take a maple leaf from one, poppies from another...
Caylynn said:
Well, I finally identified my other problem with scrapping such sites, well, at least Canadian ones. I haven't been able to find a single Canadian military kit, or Canadian Remembrance Day. U.S. kits, with their eagles and flags just don't work. I need poppies, maple leaves, In Flanders Fields, etc. There are some "fun" Canadian kits out there, but they don't have the items or the feel that I need to scrap our memorials, such as Vimy Ridge or the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

I do understand why such kits don't exist - I'm sure there's not a big market for them. But it is certainly making it challenging, at least for me, to scrap all the Canadian memorials I have. I wish I had the choice of kits that you Americans have!
Click to expand...
 
Colleen said:
I completely understand. I run into that problem when I am wanting to scrap my husband's Marine Corps photos. There are Navy, Army, and Air Force kits, but I can never find USMC kits. Their camouflage is different just to name one thing! Could you mix and match kits? Take a maple leaf from one, poppies from another...
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Try having a husband who is a Canadian Army Officer! There are absolutely NO kits that match his uniform, rank insignia, etc. Yes, the camouflage is very different. CADPAT isn't like anything else I have seen, either temperate or desert. Then there are his DEUs, mess kit, etc.

I've tried mixing and matching but usually the reds don't match, and I haven't been able to find reds close enough in colour to make things look good. But I'll keep trying!

You can see my husband's desert CADPAT here, it's the night he returned from six months in Kuwait, and "his" cat, Merlin was very happy to have daddy home:
 
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