May 21, 2015 Veterans History Project Recognizes the Year of the Interviewer
Contact: Megan Harris (202) 707-8205, Monica Mohindra (202) 707-1071
Website: VHP - The Year of the Interviewer
Marking 15 years of the Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress, a new edition of the “Experiencing War” website series celebrates a pivotal component of this important national effort: the volunteer interviewers. These individuals work to preserve history by saving the stories of the veterans in their families and communities; engaging through organizations such as the Veterans Administration, Disabled American Veterans and the Red Cross; or partnering with high schools, colleges, libraries and museums. Through their time, commitment and energy, VHP has amassed an archive of more than 96,000 veteran collections.
“VHP’s 15th Anniversary: the Year of the Interviewer” feature is the first expression of the Library’s year of gratitude to these unsung volunteers whose actions make real the promise of veterans’ voices being heard. From Persian Gulf War veteran and mother Nancy Lehman, interviewed by her son – then a high school student – to Vincent Patton III, interviewed by Steve Estes, an author who has conducted more than 50 Veterans History Project interviews, these featured collections illuminate the bridge of understanding created by participation in the project.
Looking through the lens of the interviewer rather than through the veterans’ military experience, this presentation is a departure from the preceding 48 editions. Pulling from a variety of different life experiences and backgrounds, it provides a new window into understanding the importance of the project and the significant and meaningful impact of sitting down with a veteran to hear and preserve his or her story.
Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000 to collect, preserve and make accessible the firsthand remembrances of America’s war veterans from WWI through the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/vets/ or call the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848. Subscribe to the VHP RSS to receive periodic updates of VHP news.
Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to advance the knowledge and creativity of the American people through its collections, programs and services. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov.
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PR 15-090
2015-05-22
ISSN 0731-3527