Inaugural Meeting of the Five-Star Council
On November 8, 2001, Librarian
of Congress Dr. James H. Billington and Veterans History
Project director Ellen McCulloch-Lovell convened the first
meeting of the Five-Star Council, a twenty-six member advisory
board to the Veterans History Project. Following this meeting,
members of the Council addressed the press and public in
the Members Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson
Building. Also present was Tess Canja, president of AARP,
who announced that her organization has pledged $3 million
to support the Veterans History Project over the next three
years.
To view a cybercast of the public briefing, select the
links below to watch each speaker's presentation. Please
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Veterans
History Project director Ellen McCulloch-Lovell began the proceedings
by introducing James
H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, who welcomed everyone
to the meeting, summarized the goals and history of the project,
and introduced and thanked the Five-Star Council members for their
participation. Dr. Billington is a graduate of Princeton and Oxford
universities and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Since becoming the thirteenth Librarian of Congress on September
14, 1987, Dr. Billington has championed the Library's "American
Memory" National Digital Library (NDL) Program, which makes freely
available online seven million American historical items from
the collections of the Library and other research institutions.
Senator
Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a combat veteran who was awarded
two Purple Hearts during the Vietnam War, recognized the accomplishments
of his fellow Five-Star Council members and discussed the importance
of the Veterans History Project, especially for future generations.
Senator Hagel stated in this clip, "In the hands of the nation's
young, rest the nation's destiny. This project is so important
for that reason alone, to connect [our history with] our young
people, the next generation, the generation that will inherit
the challenges of the day." Senator Hagel served as deputy
administrator of the Veterans Administration under President Ronald
Reagan from 1981 to 1982. In 1996, he was elected to the U.S.
Senate, and four years later he was one of the cosponsors of the
legislation establishing the Veterans History Project.
A native of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Representative
Ron Kind was first elected to Congress in November 1996. He
was the principal author and leading sponsor of the legislation
creating the Veterans History Project, and he recounted at the
November 8 event how he was inspired to establish the project
after hearing for the first time the personal stories of his father,
a Korean War veteran, and his uncle, a World War II veteran. He
felt that their stories and all American veterans' stories should
be preserved for our nation's future generations.
(Clip begins with brief introduction by Librarian of Congress
James H. Billington.)
Senator Daniel K. Inouye remarked at the meeting that less
than half of all high school seniors polled in 1991 knew the significance
of December 7, 1941. This date is of grave importance, particularly
for Inouye. He was a seventeen-year-old high school student and
Red Cross volunteer when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and he rendered
first aid to civilian casualties. In 1943, he enlisted in the
military and became a member of the U.S. Army's famed 442d Regimental
Combat Team. Senator Inouye returned home in 1947 as a captain
with a Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
with cluster, and twelve other medals and citations. He later
received a Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1959 he won election
to the U.S. House of Representatives as Hawaii's first congressman,
and in 1962 he began the first of his seven consecutive terms
in the U.S. Senate.
(Clip begins with brief introduction by Librarian of Congress
James H. Billington.) Senator
John Warner of Virginia began a long career in public service
during World War II when in January 1945, at age seventeen, he
enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on active duty until the
summer of 1946 and was honorably discharged as petty officer 3rd
class, electronic technician's mate. Senator Warner commenced
a second tour of duty following the outbreak of the Korean War
in the summer 1950, this time in the United States Marine Corps.
Following his service in Korea, he remained in the Marine Corps
Reserve for ten years and was promoted to the rank of captain.
After serving as secretary of the navy from 1969 to 1974, Warner
was elected to his first term in the United States Senate in 1978.
At the November 8 briefing, Senator Warner discussed his father,
who was a surgeon in the trenches during World War I, and his
mother, who worked with the Red Cross and other relief organizations
caring for the returning wounded. He lamented that he did not
have an oral history of his father and said "let us not let
other families go without" having their stories preserved.
About the Veterans History Project, he told Dr. Billington, "I
cannot think of any charge given to you by Congress that takes
greater significance than this one."
(Clip
begins with brief introduction by Librarian of Congress James
H. Billington.) Former Representative
Sam M. Gibbons of Florida spoke of the importance of collecting
veterans' stories so that future generations can learn from previous
generations' experiences. Gibbons began his own military service
in June 1941 as an infantry officer. Most of his time was spent
with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. As part of the 101st
Airborne Division, he led parachute infantry forces in the predawn
invasion of Normandy, France. He participated in the invasion
of Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, the defense of Bastogne and
actions in Central Europe, and he received the Bronze Star for
his service. Upon leaving the armed services as a major, Gibbons
served in Congress for thirty-four years representing Florida
and was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
(Clip begins with brief introduction by Ellen McCulloch-Lovell.)
Introduced by Veterans History Project director Ellen McCulloch-Lovell
as "the Library's very own general," Deputy
Librarian Donald L. Scott discussed his service in Vietnam
and his pride in integrating the military. Prior to coming to
the Library, General Scott served as the chief executive officer
of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), a division
of the Corporation of National Service. His earlier career in
the army included stints in Germany and two tours in Vietnam.
His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion
of Merit, six Bronze Stars, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
In 1991, General Scott retired from active duty with the rank
of brigadier general having served thirty-one years in the army.
General Scott ended his remarks by introducing Secretary of Veterans
Affairs
Anthony J. Principi. A combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, Principi
served as deputy secretary of veterans affairs, the Veterans Administration's
second-highest executive position, from March 17, 1989, to September
26, 1992, when former President George Bush named him acting secretary
of veterans affairs, a position he held until January 1993. In
December 2000, President George W. Bush nominated Principi to
be secretary of veterans affairs, and the U.S. Senate confirmed
his appointment on January 23, 2001. He told the audience that
"all that we love and cherish in America today, all that
we enjoy in this great land of ours is because" of the sacrifices
and service of young GIs who fought in World War I, World War
II, and "on the frozen hills of Korea, . . . the jungles
of Vietnam, . . . and the deserts sands of the Persian Gulf."
Secretary Principi said that he "look[s] forward to dedicating
the resources of my department" to further the goals of the Veterans
History Project.
(Clip begins with brief introduction by Librarian of Congress
James H. Billington.) Prior to introducing AARP President
Esther "Tess"
Canja, Dr. Billington noted the important role that active
partners play in carrying out the mission of the Veterans History
Project. He indicated how fortunate the project was to secure
major private sector support from AARP. Ms. Canja announced at
the meeting that AARP has pledged one million dollars for each
of the next three years to the project. She also declared that
she would encourage AARP's thirty-five million members to collect
the stories of veterans.
Ellen McCulloch-Lovell
was appointed director of the Veterans History Project on May
25, 2001. Prior to her appointment, she was director of the White
House Millennium Council, which ran a number of national programs
and partnerships to commemorate the millennium. From 1983 to 1994
she served as chief of staff to Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
In this clip she thanked all those involved with the Veterans
History Project and concluded by introducing segments
of several interviews received as part of the Veterans History
Project Collection.
(Clip begins with brief introduction by Librarian of Congress
James H. Billington.) At the November 8 meeting, Lt.
Gen. Julius W. Becton was introduced by his longtime friend
Dr. Billington. General Becton entered active duty in the U.S. Army
Air Corps in July 1944 and graduated from Infantry OCS in 1945.
A veteran of three wars--World War II, Korea, and Vietnam--he served
in various positions at many posts in the United States and abroad.
Overseas duty carried him to Germany, France, the Philippines, the
Southwest Pacific, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. His key duty assignments
included Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Commander of the
VII US Corps, and the Army Inspector of Training. After retiring
from the army, General Becton became Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and later president of Prairie View A & M
University. He has served as director of the Boy Scouts and America
and is interested in a variety of education issues. In his remarks,
he emphasized that the Veterans History Project is a great way to
connect today's younger generation with our nation's veterans. |