A memoir is a type of history and thinking from this standpoint we can see how specific dates might be important. The reader doesn't always have to know exactly when events mentioned in a memoir happened, but it's almost always relevant for the writer to provide a general setting in time for the story.
Some memoirs might deal with specific dates however. A milestone event in the author's life should in most cases have a date attached to it. Dating the event gives it greater context in the history of all things as well as a relatable point in time for the readers of the memoir.
There are certain dates of historical significance to which a memoirist might attach personal meaning. The day President Kennedy was assassinated, the attack of 9/11, or when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans are examples of dates when many shared an experience and have personal stories to tell related to the event. Others might have stories to tell about historic events such as a presidential inauguration or a major sporting event.
The dated stories don't have to be necessarily big in scope either. A story might be about what you and your family or friends did on a particular holiday in a specific year. It could be a story about a wedding day or a funeral, either which would have a significant date attached to it.
Think about dates in your life that stand out. There is the story of the day itself as well as the days that led up to that day and the effect in the days after the event. Dates are just as important to the story as they are to the person relating the story.
Do you typically wonder when something happened in a story you are reading? When you are telling someone else about something that happened do you include when it happened? What are some important historical dates that impacted you personally?
