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Archive: 2019 (6 Posts)

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

Veterans Art Showcase

Posted by: Kerry Ward

Whether crafting, performing, cooking, writing, or painting, art has the dynamic power to alleviate stress, build connections, and even stimulate recovery. For veterans and active duty service-members, art affords an outlet through which they can articulate – and process – what they experienced during their service. From November 5-9th, the Library of Congress Veterans History …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

Five Questions with Mike Farrar, Los Angeles Region American Red Cross & VHP Volunteer

Posted by: Kerry Ward

The following is a guest blog post from American Red Cross Long Beach Chapter’s Veterans History Project Director, Mike Farrar in honor of National Volunteer Month. Tell us about yourself. My name is Mike Farrar, and I joined the American Red Cross as a volunteer back in 2008 to serve as one of the leads …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

From Behind the Lines to Between the Lines: War Poems and Beyond

Posted by: Kerry Ward

The following is a blog post in honor of National Poetry Month. While walking the halls of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, it is not difficult to be inspired by the Lyric Poetry Hall.  I have often wondered what artists and poets have ventured through these halls for the past 122 years. Were …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

Bidding Blue Skies and Tailwinds to the Last of the Doolittle Raiders

Posted by: Kerry Ward

Just days shy of the 77th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” Cole, the sole surviving Doolittle Raider, flew west this morning. He was 103 years old. I had the great privilege of working with Cole at airshows and through veteran services. We laughed over him telling my father he was getting …

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

A Million Vietnam Wars

Posted by: Kerry Ward

March 29th is National Vietnam Veterans Day, and this post explores the variety of experiences in Vietnam showcased by Veterans History Project collections. From ticker tape parades to protests, American citizens have both supported and condemned their country’s military involvement in various conflicts. Perhaps no conflict captures this vacillation more than U.S. involvement in the …