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Honoring Those Who Have Served
The Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress
Johnson County Public Library has partnered with U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and the Library of Congress to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from them and better understand the realities of war.
The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000 as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
The project covers World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It includes participants of those wars—men and women, civilian and military—documenting the contributions of civilian volunteers, support staff, and war industry workers as well as military personnel of all ranks and branches of the service.
David Allen, Adult Services Librarian at White River Branch, has conducted interviews with local veterans to save for posterity at JCPL and the Library of Congress. A recording of each interview is sent to Senator Lugar's office where it is dictated and sent to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Each participant receives a signed certificate and letter of appreciation from the senator.
Those interested in telling their stories, or familiar with someone who might be, should contact David Allen at (317) 885-1330 or dallen@jcplin.org. For more information about the Veterans History Project, please visit www.loc.gov/vets.
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