August 18, 2004
Press Contact:
Anneliesa Clump Behrend (202) 707-9822
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TO PARTICIPATE IN FAN APPRECIATION
DAY
WITH THE POTOMAC CANNONS
Veterans History Project to throw out first pitch,
honor veterans, active military
At 1:35 p.m. on Sunday, September 5, the Potomac Cannons --
the Carolina League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds -- will
host their annual Fan Appreciation Day. Diane Kresh, director
of the Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress,
will throw out the first pitch and VHP representatives will distribute
information about the Project at the game. The game will be held
at the G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium (7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge,
Va.).
As part of the Potomac Cannons’ effort to honor service
men and women, the Cannons are partnering to promote the Veterans
History Project and are offering Grandstand Tickets for only
$5.00 to all veterans and active military and their families
for the September 5th game. Tickets can be purchased at the box
office the day of the game or in advance over the phone by calling
(703) 590-2311 x225. Fan Appreciation Day includes player autographs,
free giveaways, kids running the bases after the game and fans
participating in several on-field contests.
Veterans from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and
the Persian Gulf War and the civilians who supported them are
coming forward to record their personal stories for a growing
archive in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
The goal of the Veterans History Project is to collect, preserve
and share with future generations the stories of all our war
veterans, as well as those who supported them at home and in
the field. To learn more about the project and the stories it
has collected so far, visit the VHP Web site at http://www.loc.gov/vets,
where you will find digital interviews, wartime memorabilia and
information about how to participate this national volunteer
effort.
The project is unusual in that it is one of the few nationwide
oral history efforts relying on volunteers rather than professional
oral historians to collect stories and artifacts. Recently, at
the National World War II Reunion, the Library of Congress, through
a corps of approximately 400 volunteers, collected more than
3,000 stories of World War II veterans.
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