Shinseki Announces Veterans' Stories Posted on VA's Web Pag

Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress




WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join
with the Library of Congress to host a "Veterans History Countdown" on
the VA Web site - www.va.gov http://www.va.gov/  - featuring the oral
histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.



"VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans,
preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and
heroism will never be forgotten," said Secretary Shinseki. "We want to
encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future
generations."



Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA's Web feature will introduce new personal
histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran's history from
each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on
the U.S. map in the display.



As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to
"Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!" The display will link to
the library's Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets --
which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to
follow in recording and submitting Veterans' oral histories and to
access the project's extensive digital archive.



VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its
implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000.  VA
Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program.
VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its
facilities and special events.  These collections of first-hand accounts
are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.



"We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action
for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they
know-relatives, neighbors, friends," said Bob Patrick, director of the
Veterans History Project.



The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of
American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.



The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American
wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from
Veterans and better understand the realities of war.  Approximately
65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans
History Project.



The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans' remembrances using
guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets/ http://www.loc.gov/vets .
Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov
or the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848