Since 11-08-01
Since 11-08-01
From: Brooke Rowe
us-national-security@pacbell.net
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 4:49 PM
Veterans Sought For Oral
History, by CARL HARTMAN, Associated Press Writer
(EXCERPT) WASHINGTON (AP) - Millions of veterans of American wars from
1917 to 1991 - World War I to the Gulf War (news - web sites) - will
get the chance to take part in an oral history project that will be
available to the public in mid-2002.
As of Sept. 30, there were nearly 19 million surviving war veterans,
according to a count, By the Veterans Affairs Department. About 1,500
die every day. But civilians who supported the war efforts are also
eligible to contribute.
Craig D'Ooge of the Library of Congress (news - web sites) said the
project expected to collect thousands of interviews, letters, diaries,
photos and other accounts.
``A national effort like this is also a public education process,'' said a
statement from the library's American Folklife Center. The project ``will
encourage grandchildren to interview their grandparents, classrooms to
interview people in the community, veterans to interview one another.''
Last year Congress approved legislation to carry out the project and
former President Clinton (news - web sites) signed it into law on Veterans
Day.
The library has recruited 100 partners, such as the Maine Folklife Center
and the Red Willow Institute of Omaha, Neb., whose members are Indians
from the Northern plains. Professional oral historians and folklorists
will be available for training the partners.
Participants in the collection effort are asked to cover such themes as
their first battle and their experiences, if any, as prisoners of war.
Separately, the folklife center is asking for oral accounts from witnesses
to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (news -
web sites).
On the Net: Veterans history project:
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets
---------------------------
Brooke Rowe
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com