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Category: Veterans History Project

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

Honoring Joe Sakato

Posted by: Megan Harris

The following is a guest blog post by Bob Patrick, director of the Veterans History Project. May 29, 2004 was one of the great days of my life. On that day, the World War II Memorial on The Mall in Washington, DC was dedicated. For two years before, I worked as the Director of the …

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

Faces of the Veterans History Project

Posted by: Megan Harris

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” “The eyes are the window to the soul.” Trite as these sayings may be, they offer possible explanations for why we find portraits—whether they are painted, drawn, or photographed—so compelling. Anyone who has visited the National Portrait Gallery (my personal favorite of the Smithsonian museums), or browsed through …

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

Reflections on the Life of a Native American Marine

Posted by: Lisa Taylor

November 10, 2015 marks the 240th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Semper fidelis! It just so happens that this birthday falls during November, the month set aside to celebrate the rich history and culture of Native Americans/American Indians. Interestingly enough, while recently doing some research for a media event, I came across a …

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

Happy 15th Birthday, VHP!

Posted by: Megan Harris

Happy 15th birthday to the Veterans History Project! On October 27, 2000, the 106th Congress signed Public Law 106-380, an act “to direct the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to establish a program to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of American war veterans, and for other purposes.” …

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

Disabled, Yet Undeterred

Posted by: Lisa Taylor

I confess that, until joining the staff of the Veterans History Project (VHP) six years ago, I had not really given much thought to the plight of disabled veterans. Like most people, I had seen veterans with scars, burns and missing limbs, and probably unknowingly encountered many more with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but I …

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

Collection Spotlight: Anthony D. Lopez

Posted by: Megan Harris

Due in part to the well-known HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, which profiled the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the accomplishments and bravery of World War II paratroopers are well known. And deservedly so—I can’t imagine hurling myself out of a plane under the best of conditions, let alone while dodging enemy bullets …