MSMS Teacher Part of New National History Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National History Day (NHD) announced this morning the

launch of phase one of a new teacher resource, www.abmceducation.org. Ms.

Julie K. Heintz, a teacher at the Mississippi School for Math and Science in

Columbus, Mississippi, is one of the contributing teachers who is helping to

develop these 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 (ABMC).

Ms. Heintz has been studying the story of Captain Charles Dunbar Lancaster

Hewes, a member of the U.S. Army Air Forces’ 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th

Fighter Group.

Captain Hewes served in both the Pacific and European theaters of

war, flying pursuit planes and B-25 bombers in the Pacific. He returned to the

United States and volunteered for duty in Europe, where he was shot down during

the Battle of the Bulge. Hewes ejected, was taken as a Prisoner of War by the

German Army, and died on February 13, 1945. Captain Hewes is buried at

Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.

“National History Day is honored to coordinate with the Roy Rosenzweig Center

for History and New Media to develop this engaging resource. This group of

teachers has demonstrated extraordinary scholarship and research skills,” said

NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “The website in development reflects

original and insightful use of unique primary source documents, many of which

are being re-imagined for classroom use. As we lose the WWII generation, these

stories and lessons are designed to preserve the legacy of those who gave so

much.”

Ms. Heintz has been working on the resource as part of a contract with the

American Battle Monuments Commission’s (ABMC) domestic education program

for World War II in Northern Europe, administered by NHD and the Center for

History and New Media at George Mason University. The purpose of this 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 this website, launched in conjunction with the 70th anniversary

of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day features profiles on ABMC cemeteries in Northern

Europe. In July, these 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.

This resource will be expanded in November 2015 to include interdisciplinary

teaching modules developed by Ms. Heintz 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.

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