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Category: World War II

A museum display case houses edifferent pieces relating to the United States Marine Corps, with a caption below.

From Sea to Shore: 250 Years of U.S. Marine Corps Legacy

Posted by: Kerry Ward

The latest Veterans History Project blog highlights a special display celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, on view December 9, 2025, through January 31, 2026, in the Thomas Jefferson Building. Drawing from collections across the Library of Congress, including oral histories, letters, photographs, posters and personal artifacts, the exhibit brings to life the stories, service and sacrifices of Marines across generations. Timed around the Project’s 25th anniversary, the display underscores the ongoing mission to preserve and share veterans’ voices, ensuring these stories remain accessible for future generations.

Posted in: Afghan War, Agile Cases, Iraq War, marines, Narratives, US Marines, Veterans History Project, VHP 25th, Vietnam War, World War I, World War II

Black and white photo of a woman in a wedding dress made from parachutes

The Parachute Dresses of World War II: A Story of Resilience, Romance and Resourcefulness

Posted by: Kerry Ward

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.

Posted in: Oral History, Photographs, Veterans History Project, Weddings, Women's History, World War II