WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Darin LaHood announced the commencement of the Veterans History Project for Illinois’ 18th Congressional District. The project is a way to collect and preserve memories, stories, interviews, and memorabilia of the United States veterans from WWII to the present. As an initiative by the Library of Congress, the project gives veterans the opportunity to share personal experiences that will be catalogued by the Library as a way to honor the impact and history of the armed forces.
“We know our veterans have sacrificed so much for our great country, but more times than not, we don’t know the stories behind their service. The Veterans History Project helps our veterans and the public know more about how our brave men and women made such an impact on our history,” stated LaHood. “As this project moves forward, I encourage you to thank a veteran and reach out to see if they would like to share their stories. In the end, we can all learn a thing or two from our servicemen and women and walk away with great insight and appreciation for all they have done to preserve and fight for our freedom.”
Interviews of veterans can be collected in several ways. A family member can choose to record an interview with a veteran about their time in the service, or a veteran can compile a memoir or written statement on their experiences. Alternately, high school students in grades 10-12 can interview veterans, working with their school librarians and history classes.
To learn more about how to submit a story to the Veterans History Project, click here.
