Past Events

For over 20 years, the Veterans History Project (VHP) has been presenting events at the Library of Congress commemoratiing important anniversaries in military history, highlighting connections to the diverse collections of veterans' personal narratives, and celebrating the creative expression of veterans through artist showcases and concerts. An archive of many of these past events is provided here.

Event
Live! At the Library: Honor Veteran Stories with Modern Warrior Live On the eve of Veterans Day, the Library’s Veterans History Project presents Modern Warrior Live, an immersive narrative and music experience that chronicles one veteran’s journey starring U.S. Army veteran Jaymes Poling, who recounts his journey serving three tours in Afghanistan and his transition back home and growth as an artist.
- Date: 2022-11-10
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Sharing Military Voices Archived at the American Folklife Center During this panel presentation, staff from the Library’s Veterans History Project and Story Corps’ Military Voices Initiative will share collection materials and discuss the ways in which first-person reflections and narratives help us understand the diverse experiences of active duty personnel and veterans alike.
- Date: 2022-08-09
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From Conflict to Creativity: Veteran Artists Showcase (Morning Session) Watch live demonstrations of glass art, photography, painting, pottery, blacksmithing and singing by veteran artists Lisa Firmin, Terri Souder, Clem Danish, Ehren Tool, Edith Disler and Matthew Gill. At 11:30am, Terri Souder and Lisa Firmin will share their experiences and answer questions.
- Date: 2022-06-30
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From Conflict to Creativity: Veteran Artists Showcase (Closing Ceremony) Join us in the Library of Congress’ historic Coolidge Auditorium as we ceremoniously culminate this rich series of events and PTS Awareness Month with a special program during which Uniting US will donate more than 100 veterans’ oral history interviews to VHP, where they will be archived and made accessible for future generations.
- Date: 2022-06-30
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From Conflict to Creativity: Veteran Artists Showcase (Afternoon Session) Watch live demonstrations of writing, painting, photography and woodworking by veteran artists Cyrus Quadland, Erin Colson, Kimberly Johnson, Margaret Ann Viboolsittiseri and Michael Higgs. At 2:30pm, Miguel Chavez and Phyllis Thomas Miller will share their experiences and answer questions.
- Date: 2022-06-29
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From Conflict to Creativity: Veteran Artists Showcase (Morning Session) Watch live demonstrations of fiber art, painting, metal work and photography by veteran artists Gail Belmont, Mary “Tayliegh” Lopez De Morales, Leigh Cortez, Lewis Howard, Steve Kost and Wayne Williams. At 11:30am, Gail Belmont and Lewis Howard will share their experiences and answer questions.
- Date: 2022-06-29
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From Conflict to Creativity: Veteran Artists Showcase (Morning Session) Watch live demonstrations of various forms of painting, writing, pottery and collage by veteran artists Alicia Christy, Bob Cortez, Sue Decker, Christina Helferich-Polosky, Jara Fatout Lang and Ted Berkowitz.
- Date: 2022-06-28
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From Conflict to Creativity: Veteran Artists Showcase (Afternoon Session) Watch live demonstrations of writing and various forms of painting by veteran artists Maria Carrion, April Goodwin-Gil, Phyllis Thomas Miller, Ryan Smithson and Miquel Chavez. At 2:30pm, Bob Cortez and Jara Fatout Lang will share their experiences and answer questions.
- Date: 2022-06-28
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Live! at the Library: Honoring Memorial Day Honor our fallen veterans during special Memorial Day-themed programming at the Library of Congress during our Live! at the Library Thursday night schedule.
- Date: 2022-05-26
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I Am Not Invisible 3.0 Marking International Women’s Day, a virtual panel will explore the challenges faced by female veterans, the communities they represent, and how we can all be better advocates.
- Date: 2022-03-08
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Post Traumatic Stress & Music: The Healing Power of Song Join us for a panel discussion that explores the efforts of musicians and music-based organizations to reach out to veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress, and share their stories of how vets have used music to cope with traumatic experiences. The panel of expert musicians, veterans and musical organizations will be introduced by Gary Sinise, actor and founding member of the Lt. Dan Band.
- Date: 2021-06-23
Event
Motherhood and the Military Mothers have volunteered to serve in the military since the Revolutionary War, where they held traditional roles as nurses, seamstresses or cooks and, since 2015, in designated frontline combat roles. The Library's Veterans History Project invites the public to a virtual panel titled “Motherhood and the Military.” Ahead of Mother’s Day, the panel will explore the intersection of the role of mothers and their...
- Date: 2021-05-06
Event
Veteran Grown: Farming The panel will feature military veterans who chose to farm in more traditional settings, some of whom benefited from veteran farming training programs, while others received one-on-one mentorship. Their specialties include vegetable crops, beekeeping, pig farming, soap making, entrepreneurship and more.
- Date: 2021-03-26
Event
Veteran Grown: Urban Farming The panel will feature military veterans who farm in urban settings, as well as representatives from national organizations that train and provide direct support to farmer veterans. Their specialties include beekeeping, compost management, vegetable crops and more.
- Date: 2021-03-19
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Volunteering to Make History What is it like to volunteer to interview veterans for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project? Join a compelling group of interviewers from students to professionals who share their experiences, best practices and what it has meant to them.
- Date: 2020-11-14
Event
VHP Anniversary Celebration: "Precious Pearl" Written by Cindy Morgan and Navy veteran Kimberly Mitchell, “Precious Pearl” tells Mitchell’s story who as a baby during Vietnam was found on the side of the road, clinging to the body of her deceased mother. A South Vietnamese Marine carried her to the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Da Nang, Vietnam where she was adopted by a U.S. Airman and brought back to Wisconsin...
- Date: 2020-11-13
Event
Organizational Benefits to Collaborating with the Veterans History Project A panel of renowned liaisons discuss their use of the Veterans History Project to engage with their communities to ensure their local veteran and Gold Star family member’s contributions are not forgotten, but forever archived and made available for all.
- Date: 2020-11-12
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VHP Anniversary Celebration: "Old Glory" Written by Cindy Morgan and Kimberly Mitchell and performed by Mitchell, “Old Glory” displays Mitchell’s dedication to Vietnam era veterans through her experience assisting with the Old Glory Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight, which takes these veterans on an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. and returns them home as heroes to the AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
- Date: 2020-11-10
Event
Conversation on Conversing: Veterans Discuss VHP Participation VHP collections are as unique as the veterans and family members who contribute them. This panel discussion includes veterans of various generations, conflicts and backgrounds to discuss the process of submitting a collection of their military memories to our national Library through the Veterans History Project.
- Date: 2020-11-09
Event
VHP Anniversary Celebration: "Still Over There" Written by Operation Song's Jim Collins and Air Force and Navy veteran Franklin Tootle, “Still Over There” describes Tootle's journey with PTSD as a result of his service in Iraq, and how his commitment to country, family and his fellow veterans drives him daily.
- Date: 2020-11-08
Event
VHP Anniversary Celebration: "In Love and War" A performance of "In Love and War," with lyrics by Roxanne Seeman with music by Charles Fox is sung by Hannah Goldblatt, accompanied by pianist Elise Solberg. It is dedicated especially to the veterans from our Greatest Generation who set an example of service and sacrifice for generations to come.
- Date: 2020-11-07
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VHP Anniversary Celebration: Barbara Martin Mini Concert Jazz vocalist and performer Barbara Martin performs as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.
- Date: 2020-11-06
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Veteran Entrepreneurship & Post Traumatic Stress Every veteran has stories to tell, but those stories don't end when they leave the military, nor do they leave all of their wounds and traumas behind. In this panel, veteran entrepreneurs will tell their stories of starting a business, and veteran advocates will speak on how they have helped vets achieve their goals of self-employment.
- Date: 2020-06-24
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Music and Service: A Panel Discussion Around Music and the Military Music has played a pivotal part in military culture since time immemorial. On the battlefield, it inspires and intimidates. In times of peace, it stimulates feelings of national pride at receptions, banquets, funerals, and national events. Song has the ability to evoke memories, provide comfort, and communicate when at a loss for words.
- Date: 2020-03-16
Event
Operation Song and Jamie Fox Operation Song is a Tennessee based not-for-profit program that pairs veterans, active-duty military, and their families with professional songwriters to help them tell their stories.
- Date: 2019-11-09