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The Oakland Press
January 24, 2008 |
Jacquelyn Gutc
Staff Writer |
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Local Veterans Tell Their Stories |
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Local men and women who served in the military or helped during wartime as civilians are getting the chance to recount their stories for the nation.
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Thanks to the efforts of the Southfield Veterans Commission and U.S. Rep. Sander Levin's office, Michigan residents who have stories from World War I to the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan can have their tales recorded and sent to the Library of Congress.
Each Wednesday at the Southfield Public Library, the commission's chairman, Daniel Brightwell, interviews those who come to tell their wartime histories, using guidelines from the Library of Congress.
Since December, the commission has recorded nine histories. Members originally had a goal of 50 in six months, but Brightwell believes they'll pass that number and keep going.
"So far it's going pretty good. We're kind of on a roll so to speak," the Vietnam veteran said.
The commission plans to record the histories weekly for at least a year as long as people want to participate.
"This has worked out so well in Southfield that we really hope it will be a model," said Libby Benton, legislative assistant to Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat. "One of the concerns is that so many veterans from the World War II generation are passing away, so it's really important to collect those histories."
Brightwell said it's important to capture the history of the patriotism that has been displayed over the years, to get the stories of those individuals who sacrificed and to share with the next generation what it means to be patriotic.
"The main thing is just to capture their stories," said Brightwell.
Congress started the project in 2000, and the histories collected are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to be used by researchers and to "serve as an inspiration for generations to come," according to the library's Web site.
So far, more than 50,000 histories have been collected throughout all 50 states, making this project the largest oral history America's ever had.
Southfield is the only location in Michigan where interviews are being conducted.
Levin's office began working with the SVC when Brightwell contacted it for help getting started. Levin represents portions of Oakland and Macomb counties.
People interested in an interview are welcome regardless of whether they're from the Southfield area or not.
The time slots only allow for two interviews in each Wednesday session, so it's necessary to call ahead and set a date.
Individuals can also record their own histories to send to the Library of Congress with a guide kit from the library.
The oral histories can be recorded through video or only audio. Original, firsthand memorabilia is also accepted for the project, including diaries, memoirs, photographs and letters.
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To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
