Veterans of the United States military who served during or who continued to serve after 9/11 are the focus of the Veterans History Project's new online exhibit. Thanks to the Library of Congress, these service members can share their stories on video, audio, or written documents with the general public.
The Veterans History Project is not new to the Library of Congress. It was first conceived in 2000 by Public Law 106-380 signed by President Clinton. This government project has amassed more than 112,000 collections by service members. They speak of their experiences in every conflict and operation in which the United States military has been involved since World War I.
The people interviewed share stories of heartache, drama, and bravery first-hand. They are interviewed by specially trained personnel at the Veterans History Project who have volunteered to take this task on. One interviewer expressed his reasons for participating in the project in a post on the Library of Congress website: "I believe that it is important we preserve our veterans' experiences and stories for generations to come. They have fought a battle that we will soon fight again or are already fighting," said Brandon Lithalangsy.
Anyone can submit video, audio, photos, or documents to the project as long as the veteran did not receive a dishonorable discharge. The videos can be in a variety of formats like 8mm, DVD, MPEG-2, or even Betacam. Digital videos are acceptable.
The new online exhibit launched on September 10, 2021, in the Library of Congress is named "Twenty Years of Service: Post 9/11 Veterans." The exhibit shares the narratives of post-9/11 Afghan War and Iraq War veterans.
Any of the videos can be downloaded or streamed. As the veterans speak, the viewer feels like they are in their space. It becomes very intimate.
For example, Elliot Ackerman is a novelist with 8 books to his name and many articles. He had a distinguished career in the Marine Corps as a Captain and then went on to serve in the CIA. By logging on to the Veterans History Project, one can hear his story.
Rupa Danier was an anesthesiologist in the Afghan War and worked with the Marines. She began her military career with the Navy and even trained with the SEALs. Her story was fascinating because she faced some challenges as a woman in dangerous locations.
These narratives show bravery, personality, and the excellence of those who have served. There are ten men and two women. "Twenty Years of Service: Post 9/11 Veterans" shows who our military veterans really are by letting them speak their truth in their own words.
"Now more than ever, it is critical that recent conflict veterans are given the chance to speak their mind—and that we take the time to listen," said Megan Harris, blogger on the Library of Congress website.
To view these stories and get to know these veterans better, this link is helpful. This project is useful for any students interested in learning more about war and history.