My local library in Kings County recently received a grant
for the Veterans History Project. As a veteran of the Viet Nam Era, and as a
woman who joined the Navy at a very controversial time, I was interested in
participating. I felt the women’s side of things needed to be told.
The project was started in 2000. It was created to collect
and preserve the personal stories from America’s war veterans. We have lost
most of the WWI vets without a recorded history and the WWII vets are in their
90’s. We are quickly losing access to their memories. Viet Nam vets have in the
past been reluctant to discuss their experiences. Today’s men and women who
served in Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan are a generation of cell phones
and Face Book and are dialed into social media.
My own history started in 1972. People were protesting the
war and I came from a military family. The draft was in place and many
“hippies” and people against the war joined the Navy to avoid fighting on the
ground. While I went into the military as a “hawk,” I came to understand the
protest.
Two things I wanted to talk about was the prevalent drug
problem and sexual harassment. I’m not sure that’s what the interviewers
wanted, but it’s what I felt was necessary to address. I also spoke of the
limited roles women were allowed to perform. I realize now that my generation
was a frontrunner to many of the opportunities women now serving enjoy.
The Library of Congress in conjunction with the American
Folklore Center is conducting this project. It is open to anyone who has served
during war time, even if they were not in combat. Civilians who served in a
professional capacity in support of a war are also included.
So, how do you do this? If you know a vet who qualifies, you
can contact the project via the sites listed below. You’ll need a video camera
or audio equipment. There is a field kit with questions and forms to fill out.
The process takes approx. 45 minutes. Once the interview is concluded and sent
to the Library of Congress, it is put on file an available to the public. Your
children and relatives will have this first person narrative to remember their
loved one.
I was the first to be interviewed by the Hanford Library. In
addition, my library provides each of us with a video of our own.
Quesitons? Contact the project at 1-888- 371-5848
www.loc.gov/vets
Sunny, this is simply lovely and thank you so much for posting this. My husband was in the Navy for six years. You look so beautiful in all your pictures, too.
ReplyDeleteAw, Skye, thank you for the compliment!
DeleteThank for posting this Sunny. You have explained that it is important to get these interviews. These interviews are part of our history.
DeleteHow nice was that to be the first to be interviewed by the Hanford Library under their grant for this Veterans History Project. Then to have your interview archived at the Library of Congress no less. Really neat. I spent a great deal of time at that library when I lived in Hanford, CA and I do miss it. That was the longest stint of unemployment I've ever had and I made good use of it. I'm going to share your post as I may know a few others who will take interest. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing it, Linda. I hope more veterans contribute to this very important program.
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