Memory and Memorialization

Memory refers to the mental process of storing, retaining, and recalling information about past experiences. It allows individuals to learn from the past and navigate the present. Memorialization is the act of preserving or commemorating important people, events, or periods—often through monuments, rituals, or traditions—to honor their significance. While memory is a personal and internal process, memorialization often involves external symbols or practices meant to keep collective or individual histories alive across generations. Together, they serve to preserve identity, history, and meaning.