October 18, 2017 Veterans History Project Celebrates Veterans Day at the Library

The Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project (VHP) will celebrate Veterans Day, between Nov. 7 to Nov. 11, with live book talks and a variety of performances, guided tours, workshops and other activities. The series of events, titled “Coming Home: Veterans Day at the Library of Congress,” will take place in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library. From a letter-writing event for active-duty service personnel to examining objects a World War I soldier needed, these activities intend to honor and recognize veterans and their families and explore the ways military men and women have connected to home and family during and after service from World War I, Vietnam and the current conflicts.

Below are the listings for the Veterans Day programs and displays being offered:

Talks/Lectures

Tuesday, Nov. 7
Author Jeanne Walker Harvey Presents “Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines” – 10:30 a.m.
Young Readers Center, ground floor, Thomas Jefferson Building
In the Young Readers Center, author Jeanne Walker will discuss an inspirational story about the woman who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.  This program will be recorded for future webcast on the Library of Congress website and YouTube account.

Thursday, Nov. 9
Talk: “Literature of WWI: Yusef Komunyakaa” – noon
Mumford Room, sixth floor, James Madison Building
Poet Yusef Komunyakaa will discuss his favorite World War I authors and read selections of his own award-winning work. This event is free, but tickets are not required, with book sales and signing to follow.

Kluge Scholar Discusses His Book, Titled “A Rift in the Earth” – 6:30 p.m.
Mary Pickford Theater, third floor, James Madison Building
Army veteran and bestselling historian, James Reston Jr., will explore themes from his book, titled “A Rift in the Earth,” including the selection of Maya Lin’s design for the Vietnam Memorial.

Saturday, Nov. 11
Young Readers Activity
Letter Writing to Active Duty Service Members – 10 a.m.
Young Readers Center, ground floor, Thomas Jefferson Building
Visit the Young Readers Center for a letter-writing activity to active duty service personnel and examine objects a World War I soldier needed.

Exhibit Tours

Tours of “Echoes of the Great War: American Experiences of World War I” – 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Southwest Gallery, second floor, Thomas Jefferson Building
View highlights of the exhibition “Echoes of the Great War” and discover arguments about America’s involvement in World War I and the world the war created in this 30-minute tour.

Performances

An American Soldier’s Journey Home: The Diary of Irving Greenwald – 11 a.m.
Coolidge Auditorium, ground floor, Thomas Jefferson Building
This powerful one-man show follows the journey of soldier Irving Greenwald in World War I from training to the trenches and home again to his beloved wife and daughter. The presentation, developed by actor Douglas Taurel, draws directly from Greenwald’s diary, held in the collections of the Veterans History Project and currently on display in the exhibition “Echoes of the Great War: American Experiences of World War I” at the Library of Congress. Tickets are available for this free event, but not required. Tickets are available on a first-come, first served basis. Visit this event-ticketing site, DiaryOfGreenwald.Eventbrite.com, for more information and to secure your ticket. Entry is not guaranteed.

The American Soldier – 2 p.m.
Coolidge Auditorium, ground floor, Thomas Jefferson Building
"The American Soldier" is a one-man dramatic production that reveals the struggles American soldiers face at war and explores the bravery and the difficulties our veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their families face when they try to re-enter civilian life. The show is based on letters from soldiers from the American Revolution through current conflicts. It was nominated for an Amnesty International Award and has been performed at the Kennedy Center and off-Broadway. Tickets are available for this free event, but not required. Tickets are available on a first-come, first served basis. Visit this event ticketing site, AmericanSoldier.Eventbrite.com, for more information and to secure your ticket. Entry is not guaranteed.   

Gallery Talk

“Coming Home – Veterans Return from World War I,” by Ryan Reft – 1 p.m.
Southwest Gallery, second floor, Thomas Jefferson Building
“Echoes of the Great War” exhibition co-curator Ryan Reft will discuss the challenges faced by World War I veterans and the ways in which their activism drove social change in the decades following the WWI.

Workshop

Veterans Oral History Workshop – 2 p.m.
LJ #139 B, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building
This two-hour workshop and professional-development opportunity will train attendees in oral history methods through hands-on exercises, contextual examples and best practices accordant with Library of Congress standards. The session is led by staff of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. While it is centered on the narratives of veterans, anyone interested in learning – and applying – community oral history techniques is encouraged to attend. Tickets are available for this free event, but not required. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit this event ticketing site, VeteransOralHistory.Eventbrite.com, for more information and to secure your ticket. Entry is not guaranteed.

Congress created VHP 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 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. Follow VHP on Facebook @vetshistoryproject.

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