Commemorative Speech – Easy-To-Use Writing Tips
Over the years, the world has continued to mark special occasions at various times of the year. For instance, some countries commemorate the day they attained their independence, and others when they had their first bus or train.
You also remember the day you are born, do you? And during the cake cutting ceremony, you are requested to give a speech (I remember a time when I got so emotional that I was unable to give my birthday speech.)
The question begs, what is a commemorative speech?
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What Is A Commemorative Speech?
Also known as a ceremonial speech, it is a speech presented during special occasions to remember a particular event or a significant milestone that was achieved. A commemorative speech can be written for a place, unusual activity, person, innovation, or a pet as a form of respect or celebration.
For instance, a graduating class can come up with commemorative speech ideas to be presented by one of them on their graduation day. Some of these ideas may include their experience during their years of study, how they coped up with challenges, and a parting shot for the continuing students.
It is of relative importance to note that different occasions have different commemorative speech outlines and structure. A commemorative speech delivered by a president on a national holiday may not be the same as that given during a birthday.
40 Amazing Commemorative Speech Topics
Are you ready to start writing a memorial speech that everyone will be left talking about in the decades to come? Here is a list of topics you can choose from:
- Value of trees in the wake of global warming
- Tribute to Nelson Mandela
- Commendation to Barack Obama
- The end of the third World War
- History of the moon rocket
- Celebrating the first woman president in the world
- The INEOS 159 challenge
- Celebrating independence day
- Honoring our freedom fighters
- Tribute to the defense forces
- Mother Teresa’s humility
- How religion changed you
- Multiparty democracy birth
- Eulogizing Reinhard Bonnke
- The advent of the internet
- The coming of cancer screening technologies
- First trip to the White House
- The September 11 attack
- The Agrarian revolution
- Tribute to William Shakespeare
- The Reformation
- Remembering Martin Luther
- The life of Jesus
- Fall of the Berlin Wall
- The inventions of ARVs
- The Renaissance age
- The first vacation to the coast
- The day you attained your first degree
- Wedding anniversary
- Baptismal day
- The first malaria vaccine
- Tribute to your first kindergarten teacher
- The day our school was founded
- My first helicopter ride
- The invention of the GMO maize
- South Korea and USA peace deal
- My life on campus
- The end of the slave trade
- The invention of the first printing press
- Establishment of the Coca-Cola company
What Should a Good Speech Entail?
A speech is delivered before an audience, and therefore they have to be taken into consideration. Nobody wants to be seen as a zombie or tree in front of an audience.
Hence, here are a few catalysts that can spice up your commemorative speech:
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- Applicability
Try to visualize this, it’s on a graduation day, and someone is delivering a statement on the day the country got independence. Will the speech be of relevance to the occasion? I guess no because a graduation speech should cover the journey this person has gone through to the last day.
The imagery or other stylistic devices used should be one that the people can identify with well. Avoid the use of fiction at all costs.
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- Inspirational Mood
- Inspirational Mood
People should be able to draw a message of inspiration from a commemorative speech. For example, how someone battled with cancer to the point of overcoming it in the end.
If it was an invention, show how it has changed people’s lives and how others can also think creatively and come up with better designs.
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- Appealing Nature
Who would want to sit and listen to some old boring speech over and over again? I guess you will be dead asleep by the time the orator gets to the second paragraph.
It thus calls for creativity and ensuring that the audience is involved in the speech all through. You can achieve this by adding a sense of humor to the statement. Even in a funeral, you can commemorate a funny moment that the deceased had and incorporate it into the speech.
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- Remaining Optimistic
Maintain positivity at all times, even the situation at hand seems impossible. A sense of optimism empowers people to strive for the best in the midst of the worst.
Steps to Arriving at a Good Commemorative Speech Topic
• Obtaining background information
• Racking brains
• Considering the target audience
• Having relevant topics
• Maximizing on originality of topics
These are but a drop in the ocean of the steps to follow. Learning and implementing them will prove helpful in your commemorative speech writing.
In closing, there are many ideas for commemorative speeches with samples and examples on the internet.
Do you still have a problem with writing a tribute speech? We offer professional writing help.
