Senator Boxer: Participating in the Veterans History Project   

Wednesday, July 15, 2009  

 
Dear Friend:

In 2000, legislation was passed to create the Veterans History Project.  It was intended to tap into and preserve the rich personal histories of our veterans with oral and written histories, preserved by the Library of Congress.

The Veterans History Project is a history project for all veterans and all veterans are encouraged to lend their voices and their stories.   The web feature at the Library of Congress for the Veterans History Project is at http://www.loc.gov/vets/  

First-hand accounts of US veterans who served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War (1990-1995), and the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present) are included, as well as civilians who actively supported the war efforts, including war industry workers, USO volunteers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, and defense contractors, as examples.

Video and audio tape is accepted, as well as original narratives and memoirs, wartime diaries and journals, collections of letters, official military documents and collections of original photos or artwork.  If you are interested in participating, you can access the Veterans History Project Field Kit at http://www.loc.gov/vets/kit.html  

Another important way to participate is to listen and view the collection of the Veterans History Project.  Recordings are available at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/html/search/search.html  For educators, a special guide is available at http://www.loc.gov/vets/youth-resources.html

Our veterans share amazing stories of heroism, bravery and fidelity.  This project makes it possible for each of us to hear the actual voice of veterans telling these stories.  If you are a veteran with a story, a person who can help to interview a veteran, or if you just want to hear these stories, I encourage to you to participate.

Sincerely,