The Burial Hill Memorial
By: BJ and Emma , Cape Elizabeth, grade 5

This is a picture of the Burial Hill Memorial located in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  It is a talking wall because it tells about the pilgrims first trips to America.  This memorial means many things to some people and very little to others because they do not know what it is.  It is a monument that contains many pilgrimís bones that sailed upon the Mayflower, including William Bradfordís bones.  It is also meaningful to some people because of the words engraved or carved into it.  One quote by William Bradford is spelt like it would have been in the 1600ís.  It is ìAboute a hundred sowls came over on this first ship and began this work which God of his goodness hath hither to blessed let his holy name have ye praise.î  By now we hope you can see why the Burial Hill Memorial is a ìtalking wallî and why it is so important to some people.

Thinking Questions:

1)  Is there a talking wall like this in your community?

2)  William Bradford said, ì...which God of his goodness hath hither to blessed let his holy name have ye praise.î  What do you think he meant?

3) Do you know any other pilgrims that may have been on the Mayflower ?

For More Information:
Kent, Deborah. Massachusetts. Childrens Press, Chicago. ©1987.
McNair, Sylvia. Massachusetts. Childrens Press, New York. ©1998.
 
The picture on this site is from a really dark photo we took of the memorial. You can't see the writing in this picture but if you visit there you can read it yourself.

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Note: This is a student Web page.  Opinions expressed on this page shall not be attributed to the Cape Elizabeth School Department. If you have questions about this page, please email Ms Parker:  talkingwalls@cape.k12.me.us