In spaces dedicated to remembrance, participants encountered the human stories behind service, sacrifice and national memory.
Tarleton State University, in partnership with the Korean War Legacy Foundation, hosted an experiential learning trip on April 11, 2026, taking students, faculty and staff to the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery and the National Medal of Honor Museum. The experience invited participants to examine how the United States honors military service, sacrifice and national memory through public spaces and storytelling.
Participants travelled by charter bus from Stephenville and engaged in guided, reflective activities at both sites. At the cemetery, attendees explored how landscape, symbolism and commemorative practices reflect national values related to remembrance and loss. At the museum, participants encountered the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, gaining insight into acts of courage, duty, and sacrifice through personal narratives.
Participants also engaged with family members of Roy P. Benavidez, whose story is featured within the museum’s exhibits. This interaction offered a personal and intergenerational perspective on service and legacy by connecting the broader narrative of the Medal of Honor to a lived experience.
“Visiting the National Medal of Honor Museum is a powerful reminder that the stories of courage and sacrifice we study are not abstract history. They are real people from real communities,” said Dr. Rachel Capua, Vice President of External Operations and Dean of Tarleton State Fort Worth. “As a family member of Medal of Honor recipient Roy P. Benavidez, this experience is deeply personal, and I am honored that our Tarleton State family had the opportunity to engage in these stories in such a meaningful way. Experiences like this help students understand service, sacrifice and leadership not just academically, but experientially.
The experience also prompted meaningful reflection among student participants. One student shared, “My father served in the Marine Corps for 22 years, so visiting memorial sites has always been important to my family. Each one tells a different story, and taking the time to reflect reminds me there is something to learn from every life and every act of service.”
The trip was sponsored by the Korean War Legacy Foundation and Tarleton State University, reflecting a shared commitment to public humanities, civic education and experiential learning.
The experience also contributed to an ongoing research study exploring how individuals make meaning from experiences in sites of remembrance and public history. Participants who chose to take part in the study completed reflective activities designed to capture how engagement with places like the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery and the National Medal of Honor Museum, as well as ceremonies such as Tarleton State’s Silver Taps, shape understanding of service, sacrifice and collective memory. Findings from the study will help inform how experiential learning in spaces such as cemeteries and museums can support deeper reflection and meaningful learning.
“This experience invited participants to move beyond textbooks and engage directly with the ways our nation remembers,” said Eliel Hinojosa Jr., Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Tarleton State University. “By visiting memorial places and then returning to participate in Silver Taps, participants were able to connect national acts of remembrance with our own campus tradition. Together, these experiences created space to reflect on how we honor service, how we remember loss and how those practices shape our understanding of community and responsibility.”
Overall, the trip reflected Tarleton State’s ongoing commitment to experiential learning, civic engagement and the development of historically informed, reflective citizens.
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The College of Education at Tarleton State University focuses on advancing learning, leadership, and well-being through teaching, research, and community engagement. We strive to prepare professionals who will make meaningful contributions in their fields by connecting evidence-informed practice with real-world application. Through this work, the College supports individuals, organizations, and communities across Texas and beyond.