Sam Johnson

Washington, May 25 -

May 2010

Maybe you can relate to this.  “After Father’s Day dinner in 2000, I sat with my father and uncle as they recounted for the first time to me their experiences serving overseas during the Korean War and World War II.  Realizing that my two sons were too young at the time to appreciate these recollections…I thought families across the country should be recording their loved one’s own stories…to preserve this important part of American history.”  And so the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress was created.

Throughout America, and particularly in the Lone Star State which has the 2nd highest veterans population, there are millions of veterans with a wealth of unique memories and perspectives from their years of service in the U.S. Armed Forces.   

To gather and preserve those memories for future generations, the Library of Congress launched the Veterans History Project.  I strongly encourage all veterans of all wars to participate in this exciting effort to capture first-person accounts of wartime experiences that helped make America great.  In fact, I challenge the Third District to submit at least 30 stories by Veterans Day 2010.

Created by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project coordinates and expands a national collection of veterans’ oral histories and writings.  Part of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center, the Project honors those who served in the military and those civilians who have worked in dedicated support of our armed forces.

This is a critical mission, which has my strong support. The Project builds on our nation’s ever-evolving collective memory.

Honoring our past plays a key element for understanding our shared identity, and the Library of Congress - America’s library - is the principal steward of America’s memory.  Oral history can bring us close to the experience of the concussions of artillery barrage; the intense camaraderie with others upon whom your life literally depends; the fear that comes with being under siege; or the uncertainty of waiting on the home front for a loved one to return.  So many men and women from World War I to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have powerful stories that must be recorded for future generations.

While many histories of war capture the perspective of the generals and admirals, much can also be learned from the letters of a young man in combat and his young bride and mother of his children.

With countless partners around the country - veterans organizations, state libraries and historical societies, oral history groups and an army of local volunteers - the Veterans History Project reaches out to as many as possible to tell their stories.

This task becomes daunting because for many veterans it can take years and substantial emotional strength to speak openly about traumas they would rather forget.  Another challenge stems from the dwindling number of veterans.  Tragically, more than 1,000 die every day.  The time to record these oral histories is now!

The Veterans History Project recruits Americans of all ages, veterans and non-veterans, to be part of this process. The project also serves as a tremendous outlet for veterans’ sons and daughters, many of whom have long been curious about their father or mother’s wartime stories but never heard them.  By sitting down with audio or video recorders and guiding veterans through their military and civilian exploits, these volunteers add rich details to our nation’s great history.

For more information on how you and your family may contribute to the Veterans History Project, please download the Veterans History Project kit by going to http://www.loc.gov/vets/pdf/fieldkit-2008.pdf.  You also may pick up a kit in my office in Richardson.  Please call them at 972-470-0892.  This also makes an excellent Eagle Scout or student project.  To learn about the Eagle Scout connection, visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/EagleScout.html.  Please check in with my office if you plan to participate in the Third District Veterans History Project challenge of 30 stories by November 11th.

It is up to those who served to share with America exactly why freedom is not free.

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A 29-year Air Force veteran and Prisoner of War for nearly seven years in Vietnam, Johnson shared his story with the Veterans History Project in 2002.