This post recounts three stories of formal dresses that were made out of World War II silk parachutes. In two cases, they were wedding dresses, meaning that silk once intended for war had been transformed into a symbol of new beginnings. These stories are striking reminders that history isn’t just found in archives or interviews—it’s stitched into uniforms, tucked into footlockers and woven into parachute silk transformed into wedding gowns. These everyday artifacts speak volumes, capturing emotion, memory and meaning in ways words sometimes cannot. The stories come from the collections of the Veterans History Project.
The last Sunday in September marks Gold Star Mothers and Family’s day- a day for our nation to show our profound gratitude and respect for the families of our fallen. Last year, the Library of Congress invited Gold Star families to join us so that we could celebrate the lives, service and love of their …
The following is the third of a three-part blog post focusing on Military Photographers. You can read the original post HERE and the second post HERE. During the tremendous upheaval of the 1960s and with the Vietnam War in full effect, the country was in desperate need of emotive displays of patriotism while still accurately recording …
The following is the second of a three-part blog post focusing on Military Photographers. Some military photographers consider capturing the story of their fellow soldiers the greatest honor of their life. For others, the brutality of war remains frozen in their mind just as the images they produced. Four years after serving in World War …
The following is the first of a three-part blog post focusing on Military Photographers. When you think of our American military history, what images stand out? Perhaps it is the black and white Joe Rosenthal photo of U.S. Marines raising a flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. Or maybe it is Nick Ut’s shot of “Napalm Girl.” These iconic images have both inspired hope as well as …
The following is a blog post about the nation’s first snow of the season and themes of snow throughout Veterans History Project (VHP). There is just something magical about the first snow of the year. Locations throughout the country saw the first snowfall of the season this past weekend. As I sipped my hot cocoa …
