Commemorative speech 101: topics, layout, and writing tips

If you’ve ever seen the Oscars or been to a wedding or wake, you’ve heard commemorative speeches. They can be somber or funny, but they always captivate the audience and incite emotional responses (if done right). Every famous speech you had to study in school was an example of this genre, from the Gettysburg Address to “I have a dream”.

In this post, we’ll teach you how to write a commemorative speech, from choosing the topic to avoiding common mistakes. But if you’re in a rush and need a commemorative speech asap, you can always get professional help. Just type “write a paper for me” in live chat, and our support managers will match you with a professional speech writer. 

Commemorative speech essentials

We’ll discuss how to write a commemorative speech in a moment, but first, let’s go over the critical elements that define the genre. You can use the SEERS mnemonic device to remember the core elements of every commemorative speech:

• Sincerity. Believe in your cause, and your speech will be more powerful. Do not overplay the importance of the impact of the person or event, but showcase your genuine emotions. The audience will reflect your feelings, and your speech turns out a success. 

• Eloquence. You’ll be on a time limit, so choose your words wisely. It’s not about using the smartest and longest synonyms you know; it’s about picking impactful words and phrases that are easy to understand (and say out loud). 

• Emotion. Unlike informative or argumentative speeches, a commemorative speech is primarily emotional. You can convey your feelings through words, tone, and other rhetorical tools. Ideally, you want to focus on two or three emotions and finish on a positive note. For example, you can convey your condolences before expressing hope for the future.

• Relevance. For one, your subject and speech should match the event. For another, you must edit your piece to delete irrelevant information that doesn’t contribute to the main message, even if it’s factually correct. You can avoid presenting both sides of the issue, as you would in an essay, and instead focus on conveying a single idea.

• Specificity. Instead of filling your speech with generalizations, focus on a single anecdote, character trait, or attribute and build your narrative around it. Adding small details will make your speech more relatable and less likely to sound like an unwanted lecture. 

How to write a commemorative speech: Step-by-step guide and layout

Writing a commemorative speech is a challenging task, especially if you have never done it before. But it becomes more manageable if you break the writing process into bite-sized chunks:

1. Choose the topic. It should match the type of event you will be presenting at and fulfill the tasks before you. For example, if you are giving a commencement speech at college, you can talk about the value of education and the potential of graduates. 
2. Research and take notes. In some cases, you will need to hit the library to find relevant details and facts about the person or event. Citing credible sources will make your speech more impactful. Even if you are writing a wedding toast, you need to look back, brainstorm, and choose anecdotes you want to use. 
3. Create a rough outline. Write down all of your ideas and think about the best way to order them for impact. At this stage, you will notice whether you have enough material to work with or need to return to the previous step and look for more information. 
4. Write and edit your speech. Use your notes and the outline to flesh out your commemorative speech. If you can't think of a good introduction, you can start with the body paragraphs and return to the beginning once you have a better idea of how to grab the audience's attention. Remember to take a break once your speech is done and have a look at it with fresh eyes to edit and proofread before practicing reading it out loud.

Like any other piece of academic writing, the commemorative speech consists of three major parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. 

• The introduction is supposed to grab the audience's attention and make them excited to hear what else you have to say. Unlike expository essays, speeches don't work well with numbers or statistics, but you can use rhetorical questions or personal anecdotes to start your presentation. 
• The body is the main part of the commemorative speech and holds all the major points you want to make. Depending on the subject of your speech, you can structure the body chronologically or thematically, dedicating one paragraph to a specific event, place, or character trait. 
• The conclusion should wrap up your commemorative speech and summarize the main points without repeating them verbatim. Depending on the type of your speech, you can finish it with a view of the future, lessons learned, or well wishes.

Common types of commemorative speeches

At first glance, it can seem that almost every speech is commemorative. But that's not the case. Here are a few examples of speeches that fall into this category:

• A eulogy is a personal take on the deceased person's impact and qualities. Eulogies are common at wakes, but you can also be asked to deliver a eulogy at public events. 
• Award acceptance speeches like the ones you see at the Oscars or Emmys are exactly what it says on the tin. They usually include gratitude for the honor, as well as thanks for the people who helped the winner get the prize. 
• Farewell speeches are common among professional athletes wrapping up their careers. Such speeches usually express gratitude towards fans, coaches, and team players and hold hope for the future. 
• Tributes usually commemorate people, events, or places of importance. In a tribute, you need to focus on the impact of the subject rather than retelling the biography or the play-by-play of events. It’s also important to tie past achievements to the present and the future to ensure your speech keeps the audience interested. 
• Wedding toasts are also a type of commemorative speech. However, they are usually more light-hearted and focus on your relationship with the couple as well as their history and your well-wishes. You can also be asked to deliver speeches at wedding anniversaries, birthday parties, and other forms of celebration.

This is not a complete list of commemorative speech types, considering there is no official framework for this genre. To decide whether the speech you are supposed to give is a commemorative type, look at the prompt or instructions. If your presentation is supposed to be emotional and celebratory rather than informative or argumentative, it's likely a commemorative speech.

Commemorative speech examples analysis

One commemorative speech example is Ronald Reagan’s speech on the Challenger shuttle disaster. It was a short but compassionate speech in which the President expressed condolences to the astronauts’ families and highlighted their courage and dedication. He also reminded the nation of the past tragedy of the space program and drew a parallel between the shuttle crew and Sir Francis Drake, who died on board the ship off Panama’s coast. The President ended his powerful address with a promise to remember the shuttle crew members as they were last seen leaving Earth to embark on their mission.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is another commemorative speech example. It’s one of the most well-known and memorable speeches in American political history. Lincoln addressed the survivors of the battle, commemorating the heroism of those who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom. The President promised that while his words could be forgotten, the fallen’s sacrifice would be remembered. He ended the short speech with a strong proclamation that their fight would bring along a new freedom that would remain strong, led by “the government of the people, by the people, for the people”.

These two commemorative speeches are not so powerful merely because the Presidents voiced them. Instead, they are memorable thanks to genuine compassion and empathy expressed through well-chosen words. Every fact of detail present in either speech serves the overarching narrative and builds up the emotional impact.

30 commemorative speech topics and ideas

After great tragedies or big victories, leaders don’t have the freedom to choose the topic of their address, but you do. Of course, the organizers may provide a complete prompt with helpful suggestions and resources, but that’s rare. In most cases, you’ll get a rough idea of the theme and have the freedom to frame your speech as you see fit. To help you select the right subject for your address, we’ve compiled a list of thirty commemorative speech topics ranging from tributes to dedications. Skip these ideas, and you might get inspired.

Commemorative speech ideas about famous people

Depending on the event you’ll need to speak at, you can choose a leader or a celebrity that reflects the values of the venue. These topics will require extra research and careful planning since you must choose only the most relevant details and quotes to fit your narrative. Here are some sample commemorative speech ideas to inspire you:

1. The equality legacy of Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Oppenheimer balancing the positives and negatives of discovery
3. Shakespeare’s impact on the modern English language
4. Appreciating Steve Jobs’ genius in the age of smartphone addiction
5. Celebrating childhood music by Alan Menken
6. The literary impact of Charles Dickens
7. The impact of Walt Disney on global animation 
8. Celebrating the peaceful efforts of Mahatma Gandhi
9. The political courage of Winston Churchill
10. Roosevelt appreciation in the wake of the Great Depression

Tribute commemorative speech topics

Tributes are similar to the previous category, but you don’t need to choose a celebrity to write about. Instead, you can focus on local leaders, achievements, or events. These speeches work better on a small scale when you know the audience intimately. Besides, tributes work better for local events. Here are a few commemorative speech topics if you need to give a tribute:

1. Celebrating the end of a local athlete's professional career
2. Introducing the writer at a book signing session at a local bookstore
3. Welcoming the return of a war veteran after their retirement
4. Honoring the achievements of a local community leader
5. Celebrating a teacher’s impact throughout their career
6. Honoring the most impactful small business owners
7. Recognizing the positive changes encouraged by local activists
8. Showing appreciation for the philanthrope's help in the neighborhood
9. Grieving for the lives lost in a local accident
10. Welcoming the new political leaders after the election

Dedication commemorative speech topics

Unlike tributes, which usually address the past, dedications typically deal with the present and future. You can read your dedication speech at an unveiling of a new facility, memorial, or building. Regardless of the location, you need to focus on the impact it will have on society and its role in shaping the future of the local community. Here are a few ideas of dedication commemorative speech examples:

1. The role of a new community center in the neighborhood
2. The dedication of a memorial garden to a local celebrity
3. The first award ceremony of a scholarship in someone’s honor
4. The opening speech for a new exhibition at a local museum
5. The launching of a talent show among local children
6. The unveiling of a kid’s learning center
7. The opening of a new business by a local 
8. The inaugural speech for a charity initiative
9. Renaming the street after the community leader
10. The opening speech at a local political rally

You’re free to use any of the commemorative speech topics above or adjust them to fit your needs. You can also contact our support team and hire an expert writer to develop a topic and write the speech for you. 

Common commemorative speech mistakes to avoid

We've covered all the basics of writing commemorative speeches, but we want to share a few extra tips. These are the most common mistakes students make, so make sure you don't:

• Squeeze too many details in your speech. Remember that a commemorative speech is not supposed to be informative but rather an emotional celebration. Instead of squeezing as many hard facts and numbers into your speech, focus on using effective and eloquent language. 
• Ignore the impact of delivery. Your speech may be perfect, but if you fail to practice and work on your delivery, you will diminish its impact, and all your efforts will go to waste. Train your voice and diction, and work on intonation, voice variety, and rhythm. Each of these factors can affect your speech’s impact. 
• Stretch your commemorative speech too far. Before writing your speech, consider how much time you will have to deliver it and plan your writing accordingly. Most commemorative speeches should last no longer than 5 to 10 minutes because your audience will lose focus. The only way to know how long your speech will take is to time yourself practicing. If your speech runs too long, pick the least important bits you can delete.
• Ignore the audience. Instead of looking at your flashcards, keep eye contact with the audience. It will help you notice when they start yawning and checking their phones. That’s when you know you need to adjust your notes or delivery. To reduce the risk of boring the audience, introduce interactive elements into your speech. These can range from rhetorical questions to asking them to raise their hands.

Remember to avoid these mistakes when working on your commemorative speech, and the audience will appreciate your efforts.

Conclusion

Follow our tips, and you’ll write a great commemorative speech for any event. Remember to include its essential elements (SEERS), use a logical structure, and avoid common mistakes. If you need more help, check out our blog posts, like the one on writing a business letter, or hire a professional writer to take over the speech writing. SpeedyPaper experts are a couple of clicks away and ready to step in and help you overcome writing hurdles.