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Category: World War II

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

AVIATORS WANTED: Training Those Willing to Fly to Fill the Sky

Posted by: Kerry Ward

This is the second blog in a series marking the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II and will feature an “Aviator Flight Log Book” which will be available during the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover in September 2020. If you were offered a chance to learn to fly at little to no cost, …

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

“A Solemn but Glorious Hour” – Remembering VE-Day

Posted by: Kerry Ward

The following is a guest blog post by Justina Moloney, archivist with the Veterans History Project, and Kerry Ward, liaison specialist.  Seventy-five years ago, bells rang out around the world as Nazi Germany surrendered its armed forces – ending the war in Europe. The days following the surrender were filled with celebration, but the thought …

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

Subtle Celebrations of VE-Day’s 75th Anniversary

Posted by: Kerry Ward

Today marks 75 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day, a time which should be full of momentous celebrations for all Allies. Regrettably, our current adversary (COVID-19) will force many of us to commemorate this significant occasion more quietly through virtual events or delaying commemorations to future dates. Don’t despair though!  There are still ways …

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

VHP’S Newest Online Exhibit: End of WWII: 75th Anniversary

Posted by: Megan Harris

When the war ended, Gladyce “Pepper” Pederson Nypan cried, her tears dripping down into her dinner of mashed potatoes and gravy. Benjamin Cooper wrote a love letter to his wife. Alfred Newman watched his comrades fire off live ammunition, so intense was their celebrating. Jerome Yellin was still high in the sky over Japan, completing …

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

VHP’s Newest Online Exhibit: Family Matters: Relatives at War

Posted by: Megan Harris

Today, the Veterans History Project (VHP) launches a new online exhibit to feature the stories of family members who served in the military—some at the same time, and others decades apart. As I was composing this blog post and considering the narratives that are included in the new feature, my eyes wandered to a small, …

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

VHP’s Newest Online Exhibit: Veterans and the Arts

Posted by: Megan Harris

Today, the Veterans History Project (VHP) launches a new online exhibit to feature the stories of veteran artists. The online exhibit acts as a companion to VHP’s Veteran Art Showcase, a series of cultural events held at the Library of Congress from November 5-9, 2019. At first glance, artistic expression might seem an unlikely subject …

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

“Display Day” Brings Veterans to the Table

Posted by: Megan Harris

The following is a guest post by 2019 Junior Fellows Kim Windham and Patricia Glaser, who worked with the Veterans History Project (VHP) this summer. As a community-driven archive where all veterans’ histories are valued, the Veterans History Project (VHP) has collected more than 110,000 veterans’ narratives of their time in service.  All of these collections …