November 16, 2001
Press Contact: Craig D'Ooge, Library of Congress (202)
707-9189
Public Contact: Veterans History Project (888) 371-5848
Veterans History Project Seeks World War I Veterans Histories
The Library of Congress and its American
Folklife Center are urgently seeking the assistance of Americans
throughout the nation to identify World War I veterans in their
communities who are willing to be interviewed about their wartime
memories and experiences.
The call from the Veterans History Project's director, Ellen
McCulloch-Lovell, follows the project's inauguration on November
8. "With Thanksgiving here soon," Ms. McCulloch- Lovell
said, "there is no more fitting way to show our gratitude
to our nation than to preserve the memories of those who have
served us in wartime. If everyone could volunteer a little of
their time during Thanksgiving to help identify willing World
War I veterans in their communities," she continued, "their
feast will be enriched by giving a piece of history to the nation."
Individuals, relatives, veterans, civic groups and organizations
that know of a World War I veteran are invited to contact the
Veterans History Project, where staff will provide guidance and
pursue every possible channel to ensure that an audio or video
interview be made and preserved at the Library as part of the
permanent record of our nation's history.
Noting that "the service and sacrifice of our war veterans
is the bulwark of our freedoms," James H. Billington, Librarian
of Congress, stated that "the record of their service must
be preserved for future generations."
On the Monday after Thanksgiving, a team from the Veterans History
Project will be prepared to answer telephone calls and e-mails.
The American Folklife Center is asking those who have information
to call the toll free message line at (888) 371-5848 to leave
their names and telephone numbers or contact the Veterans History
Project by email at vohp@loc.gov.
The Veterans History Project is a project of the Library of
Congress through its American Folklife Center to collect and preserve
oral histories and documentary materials from veterans of World
War I, World War II, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf
wars. The project was created by Congress in legislation (P.L.
106-380) sponsored by Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel,
and Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer. The
legislation passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. AARP
is the founding private sector sponsor of the project.
To learn more about the project and to see a listing of more
than 100 Official Sponsors
and the members of its Five-Star Council,
visit www.loc.gov/vets/.
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PR 01-172
11/16/01
ISSN 0731-3527
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