Congress has proclaimed that March 29th is "National Vietnam Veterans Day"

  NC Veterans Organization Celebrates Local Veterans with Pig Pickin

North Carolina Vietnam Veterans, Inc invites all Vietnam Veterans and spouses to join them in celebrating the very first "Vietnam Veterans Day", on Saturday March 28, 2009 for an afternoon of recognition, food and fun.

NCVVI is furnishing a "pig pikin" along with deserts from the Blue Star Moms from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. There is no charge to come meet fellow Vietnam Veterans, see old friends and share or not share your stories.

Raleigh Elks Lodge 735, a long time supporter of local Veterans, has generously donated the use of their great facilities for the event. They are in Raleigh at the intersection of Lead Mine Road and Millbrook Road. Lead Mine turns off Glenwood Avenue at Crabtree Valley Mall.

Vietnam Veterans, this is finally your day!

"Welcome Home"

Join the NCVVI and the Elks for music, guest speakers, remembrances services for friends, an opportunity for those who choose to have their story recorded for their family and the Library of Congress, fun and food.

"You went, saw the movie, read the book, bought the t Shirt, survived it, now come and be honored and recognized for it," said Bill Dixon, Vietnam Veteran and member of NCVVI.  "This is "Our" Day. Don't be a I wish I hada, coulda, shoulda, think about it, missed it, don't want to talk about it. Come share and eat with friends that understand. We expect to see you there!"

For more information contact Bill Dixon @ 919-434-7345 or Bill Dixon@ZipRealty.com

Veterans History Institute - Tell Your Story

"It wasn't all that exciting."

That's what a lot of veterans say when their families ask them to tell their stories.

"I couldn't possibly talk for more than ten minutes."

Time and again, the veterans insist there isn't much to tell.

But it never takes ten minutes.

It often goes on for hours.

Because once veterans start talking, they remember so many interesting things. The people they met. The places they went. What they saw. What they thought. What they did. What it felt like.

That's what the National Veterans History Archival Institute (NVHAI) is all about.

Providing a venue where veterans tell their stories, so that their families - and the rest of the world - can understand what it was like, what it meant, and what it stands for.

Like an army finance officer who served in Tehran in WWII.  He had never talked about it to his two daughters.

"They were spell-bound," said Dave Milidonis, founder of the Cary, NC based Veterans History Institute. "Every veteran has a fascinating story to tell. Oftentimes, the less they think, at first, they have to talk about, the more interesting their story turns out to be."

What is the Veterans History Institute?

The Veterans History Institute is dedicated to preserving the historical heritage U.S. veterans, hailing from all branches of the service; the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force AND the nation's oldest branch, the U.S. Merchant Marines.  For over 230 years, these brave souls have taught generation after generation of a free people that Freedom is not Free and we have a responsibility never to forget that lesson.

The NVHAI is a dedicated group of volunteers, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to collect, preserve and present the history of our veterans, from both war and peace.

Has the Veterans History Institute Conducted Many Interviews?

The organization conducted an amazing 564 interviews in the first 10 months of 2008, all using a network of local and not-so-local volunteers.

From a nurse who went from ship to ship, never landing anywhere and never actually helping anyone who was hurt, to a navy officer who served in every major theatre between WWII and Korea, every story adds depth to the history of America.

Some veterans come to the NVHAI on their own. They want their story to go down in history, as an important part of American culture. But many times, it's the families who bring in their veterans. Families recognize the value of a story that needs to be told. They may have heard it a hundred times. It may be totally new. But they want it to be heard.

Families Hear Stories for the First Time

"We love it when families come in with the veterans," said Milidonis. "We want to hear their stories, too. It's a part of history that's often overlooked - what the folks back home were going through, when their loved one was serving their country."

As the veterans and their families tell their stories, they often remember things long since forgotten. Some of it sounds dangerous. Some seems miraculous. Some is romantic. And there are even things they laugh about.

"It's so fascinating to see hear these stories coming back," said Milidonis.  "A veteran may think what he or she did isn't all that important. He may see himself as only one of thousands. But in fact, what he sees as a small experience can give new meaning to huge events." 

Storytelling like this provides insight into military activities all over the world.

It's Not Just World War II

Of the 564 stories collected so far, 34% were from WWII, 22% from Vietnam, 14% were stories from those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, 13% from the Cold War, 9% from the Korean War, and 2% of interviewees served in the Persian Gulf War.  The balance served in Grenada, Panama, or "other", which may mean they served during a period without a major conflict. 

Volunteers across the country, including local businesses, help the NVHAI collect these important stories.

"These personal accounts are fascinating," said Stan Williams, CEO of Stanton Homes, a custom home builder in Raleigh, NC that opens its model home to veterans and the NVHAI, for Veterans History Interview events. "We are very pleased to be able to offer a comfortable place to relax and bring out these historical perspectives. It's a real eye-opener about the kind of history textbooks don't usually bring out. Being able to help real people relate real events like this is awe inspiring."

Be a Part of History!

If you or someone you know has a story to tell, call Dave Milidonis of the NVHAI at 919-449-5440 or Penny Hull of Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070 to reserve an interview time, or get directions to this drop-in event. 

Volunteers will be on hand to videotape stories and make digital copies of any records.  Veterans are encouraged to bring letters, service records, commendations, or any other historical documents with them.

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Veterans Day - Raleigh NC

Veterans Day Celebration in Downtown Raleigh NC

What is Veterans Day?

Veterans Day is always celebrated on November 11th.  The holiday began in 1919, and was originally called Armistice Day.  In 1954, Armistice Day (created to recognize WWI soldiers) was changed to Veterans Day, to honor soldiers who have served in every conflict throughout our history.  On Veterans Day we recognize those who served: both living, and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, unlike Memorial Day when we recognize only those we lost in serving their country.

Recognizing Our Veterans

Veterans are offered special recognition in the Raleigh Area, through the efforts of local volunteer organizations. 

For the past 27 years, the Wake County Council of Veterans Organizations, Inc. has sponsored the North Carolina Veterans Parade and Ceremony. This is an exciting event in which to show the men and women who are serving today and those who have served in the past years that their sacrifices and commitment to this country are appreciated.  The WCCVO represents nearly 50,000 veterans and their families throughout Wake County.

Parades and Ceremonies

On 8 November 2008, the WCCVO will be sponsoring their 27^th North Carolina Veterans Parade and Ceremony. The Parade will start at 9:15 am on the corners of E Davie St and Fayetteville St, in downtown Raleigh.

Spectator Map and Participant Information

The WCCVO and the American Red Cross and The National Veterans Freedom Park are collaborating with a series of events beginning with the Parade, Ceremonies in Raleigh at the Capitol, then displays and a concert at the KoKa Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.

8th of November Concert Celebration - Features Billy Ray Cyrus, Josh Gracin, Bo Bice, and Rockie Lynne, starts Saturday November 8th at 5pm. 

Remembering Our Heroes

There was a battle in Vietnam during and operation called Operation Hump between the 173^rd Airborne and the North Vietnamese; during this battle 45 Americans where killed and many more wounded. A medic who was badly wounded kept working to save his fellow soldiers. As a result of his unselfish act of bravery he was awarded the Medal Of Honor.  

The Medic was Lawrence Joel from Winston Salem, NC. He was the first black American soldier to be awarded the Medal Of Honor since the Spanish American War. Sgt. Joel passed away in the 1980s.  

One of the men he saved that day was Niles Harris. Niles Harris met and befriended two country music stars who later wrote and performed a song "8 November" dedicated to Niles and the men of the 173^rd and Operation Hump.  Niles will be serving as the Grand Marshal of the Parade and the Red Cross has commissioned an artist to do a mural of the battle that will be presented to the National Veterans Freedom Park at the concert.

For More Information About Veterans Day Events

For more information please contact: Bill Dixon/Parade Chairman at 919-434-7345, fax: 1-866-511-8130 or his email at bill.dixon@ZipRealty.com

Website: www.nc.veteransparade.com                                                       

Veterans History Project

Do you know a Veteran, or have you served our country?  Find out more about the Veterans History Project at the National Veterans History Archival Institute.  This volunteer service will record your stories, and give the you and your family copies of the interview.  Your stories will become part of the National Archives, and any documents you have will help create records lost in a devastating warehouse fire.      

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Millions of Americans - Millions of Stories

Tell your story -- no story or sacrifice too small.......

In 1973 a tragic fire destroyed millions of service records of our service men and women.

You may have the only existing record of their service included with your records, travel orders, separation documents and other listings.

Please share your records with us and help restore the service history of those whose records were lost -  as well as share your stories in an interview.

Wartime or peacetime veterans welcome, including Merchant Marines. 

National Veteran's History Open House

              Saturday September 27, 2008

12 pm - 4 pm                    680 Rebecca Lane

      Cattail Creek near Pittsboro, NC

No Cost - Refreshments Will Be Served

Children, Spouses, and Family Members are welcome - and are invited to share their own memories of their Veteran's service.   The veteran and family members will receive a free recording of the interview. 

Active Duty military stationed at Fort Bragg or in the surrounding areas are also invited to share their stories of service in the United States Armed Forces. 

Stanton Homes, in association with National Veterans History Archival Institute, is helping preserve memories of American veterans who have witnessed and helped shape our nation's history.  A veteran's memories of military service are worth preserving and sharing with students of all ages and are an important gift to our nation's story.   Come tell us your story. 

Call for an appointment (919) 278-8070 or (919) 449-5440

Or find out more at http://veteranshistoryinstitute.org/ or http://www.stantonhomes.com/Events.aspx.

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Millions of Americans - Millions of Stories

Tell your story -- no story or sacrifice too small.......

In 1973 a tragic fire destroyed millions of service records of our service men and women.

You may have the only existing record of their service included with your records, travel orders, separation documents and other listings.

Please share your records with us and help restore the service history of those whose records were lost -  as well as share your stories in an interview.

Wartime or peacetime veterans welcome, including Merchant Marines.

National Veteran's History Open House

              Saturday September 27, 2008

12 pm - 4 pm                    680 Rebecca Lane

      Cattail Creek near Pittsboro, NC

No Cost - Refreshments Will Be Served

Stanton Homes, in association with National Veterans History Archival Institute, is helping preserve memories of American veterans who have witnessed and helped shape our nation's history.  A veteran's memories of military service are worth preserving and sharing with students of all ages and are an important gift to our nation's story.   Come tell us your story. 

Call for an appointment (919) 278-8070 or (919) 449-5440

Or find out more at http://veteranshistoryinstitute.org/ or http://www.stantonhomes.com/Events.aspx.

Raleigh Recreation - Looking for something to do this weekend?

The History Museum in Downtown Raleigh is FREE and well worth a visit.  And right now, there's an exhibit on display that is even more compelling than usual.

"A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans"

This special exhibit consists of 60 photographs, taken by young men who were serving in the Vietnam War. 

The room is quiet.  Each photograph tells a story - the photograph itself is described by the soldier or the soldier's family. 

There are photos of cities, with tree-lined streets and shiny cars parked.

There is a story of how soldiers, working in sweltering heat far from a base, managed to bathe in the fields - by asking the gunners to blast a few holes in the field.  The holes would slowly fill with (fairly) clean water from the sandy ground, and the soldiers would try to wash some of the heat and grime away.

What struck me most was the faces of each of those in the photographs.  The Vietnam Veterans I know are the ages of my uncles and my father.  I guess I think of them in terms of how they are now, not of how they were.  These guys were young, very young.  They looked like the high school students I used to teach, like my little brother and his college friends.

Many of these pictures are heartwrenching - but they are worth seeing.  If you know anyone who served in the Vietnam War, you'll walk away from this exhibit with a little better understanding of what they saw and what they did - whether or not they were there by choice. 

"A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans" will be on display until November 17, 2008, and then will continue on a national tour. 

North Carolina Museum of History
5 East Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1011

Telephone
919-807-7900

Hours
Monday through Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Do you know a Veteran?

If you or someone you know is a Veteran, war or peace, of any era, you are encouraged to become part of the Veteran's History Project.  Free interviews are offered by the National Veterans History Archival Institute.  All work is done by volunteers, and the family and the Veteran get a copy of the full interview on DVD.  Find out more.

Raleigh and the Triangle Area

Whether you're looking at relocating to Raleigh to start your career, to find a friendly place to raise a family, or retiring in a terrific climate, Raleigh and the Research Park Triangle has something to offer you. Great schools, lots of lakes and golf courses, top-rated cultural centers, universities, and hospitals - and all only two hours to the ocean and three hours to the mountains - it's no wonder that Raleigh is a "Best Place to Live"!

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Being part of the Veteran's History Project is so much more than just sitting for an interview.  I just heard this story - and I hope this encourages Veterans to look around for their old records.

An interview was being held with a Veteran, and Dave Milidonis was videorecording and asking questions.  Suddenly there was a knock on the door.  A funeral director was standing in the open doorway.  "Sorry to interrupt," he said, "but I think you're the only one who can help this family." 

A grieving family had come to the funeral home to make arrangements for their father and grandfather, who had just passed away.  However, when they requested a military burial, they were told that there was no record that this man had served, and he would not be able to be given military honors! 

The director knew that this happens.  He knew about the warehouse fire in 1973 that destroyed 18,000,000 of the 22,000,000 service records and documents stored there.  He also knew that Dave Milidonis and his network of volunteers through the National Veterans History Archival Institute has been working tirelessly to collect documents from thousands of local and not-so-local veterans, and these documents have been archived and cross-referenced to start to put these records back together. 

He told Dave the veteran's name, and Dave immediately searched electronically through the data base that the NVHAI has painstakingly put together, and was happy to report that he had, indeed, started a file to rebuild this former soldier's record.  With the documentation that Dave was able to produce, this family was able to apply for and receive the military burial honors that this soldier deserved. 

Not every story ends as well.

At the time of the fire, there were no computerized records.  So the work the NVHAI does is vitally important.   At every interview they and their partners conduct, veterans are asked to bring any old orders, service records, release paperwork, or anything else they may have. 

Careful digital photographs are made of each document, which is immediately returned to the veteran.   Every document has not only the veterans name on it, but the names of men and women who served with them, dates, and much more.  The NVHAI archives these documents while at the same time sending the same documents to the government so that they could rebuild their records. 

If there is a Veteran in your family, encourage them to be interviewed.  They have a great deal to say, no matter when they served, wartime or peacetime.  And please let them know to bring their documents with them! 

Stanton Homes will be hosting a Veterans Interview Event on Saturday July 19th from 12-4pm.

Appointments are recommended, but drop-ins are welcome. Contact Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070, or Dave Milidonis of the NVHAI at 919-449-5440, or by email Info@StantonHomes.com.  Call or email for complete directions to the interview site, or to have any questions answered about the interview process.

I can also send information and brochures on the program directly to anyone who is interested!  The NVHAI is local to the Triangle area, but does schedule free interviews throughout North Carolina. 

Veterans History Project - The Fishers Tell Their Story

Free Service for Veterans

"I've been trying to get him to do this for years!"

Betty Fisher had a big smile and tears in her eyes as she accompanied her husband, Leonard, to his storytelling session.

"I really wanted this so much for the kids, and the grandkids. He doesn't talk about it much, but when he does, he has all these funny little stories that crack everybody up. I'm hoping his personality comes through."

Leonard and Betty were taking part in the Veterans History Interview Event, on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Pittsboro, NC. And I was excited to be a part of it.

Leonard and Betty had been married 68 years. Leonard had served in the Navy for a couple of decades. Betty wanted to be sure that their family had a tie to all that time, with a real sense of what their lives had been like for all those years. Betty tried everything - buying her husband journals, finding instructions on "how to write your life story," asking him to write down his memoirs. Years went by and it just seemed like too much trouble. Leonard wasn't sure he had all that much to say.

And then, one day, the minister of their church sent the couple an email and said she thought they might be interested in hearing about the Veterans History Interviews.  Leonard gave me a call, and told me he "had some interesting stories to tell."

He sure does. 

Leonard joined the Navy in 1937, coming out of the Depression Era, when jobs were hard to find. He didn't plan on making it a life-time career - in fact, he was discharged and signed up again quite a few times over the years. The places he served reads like a history book: Pearl Harbor. Midway. Korea. But his personal account speaks of things I've never seen on the History Channel.

Leonard had taken part in the retreival of gold bullion that the crew stashed in the brig for its journey home.

His ship had been used as target practice by the Japanese, with torpedos scuttled under its hull two years before Pearl Harbor.

He'd helped his captains avert disaster in dangerous mine fields. Ships in front and behind his were bombed. And he had his share of difficult commanders and unfortunate tours of duty.

But Leonard didn't dwell on depressing aspects. He focused on interesting occurrences, funny anecdotes, and his own personal conviction about serving his country. 

Betty also had a fascinating story to tell, about life back home in the States. Leonard proposed via telegram.

For years, they mostly saw each other through packets of letters that took a while to catch up. They had two sons that Betty raised for the most part on her own, with help from her parents. But Betty never faltered in her acceptance that Leonard was doing what he needed to do. She usually didn't know where his ships were heading. And she rarely knew when he would come home. But her memories also concentrated on the positive aspects of the 20 years he served, as she urged him to retell stories she'd heard him relay throughout the years, so that others could imagine what those times were like.

Their stories are now permanently recorded on DVD for their families to enjoy. They're also public records and will be stored at the National Archives, thanks to the National Veterans History Archival Institute and their volunteers and partners.

We're helping the NVHAI capture history and create video recordings that will become part of your family's history. I cannot tell you how fascinating it is to hear real people tell their real stories - giving all of us a sense of what was really happening in America's history.  

We're very proud and honored to be a part of this process. It's free for veterans and their families, and a copy of the recording can be provided for each family member.

More than just gathering stories, we're also trying to help reconstruct records. Millions of military records burned during a 1973 fire, and more were lost during Hurricane Katrina. 

This has caused a lot of problems for veterans who seek medical help, or their families who are seeking military burials.

The kind of information we're helping gather is helping piece those records back together.

When service members share their commendation, orders and awards, they not only ensure that their own records remain intact, but also help provide information for others who served with them. Digital photographs are taken of each record, which go into a local and national database.  

Interviews are open to any member of the Armed Forces, war or peacetime, from any period.  Whether you know someone who served in Iraq just weeks ago, or who served in WWII decades ago, encourage them to call us today and schedule an interview. 

Or attend the next Veterans History Interview Event  - email info@StantonHomes.com or call us at 919-278-8070 for more information. 

Veterans Offered Opportunity to Tell Their Stories and Become Part of History - Desperate Need for Documents to Recreate Service Records

Triangle custom home builder Stanton Homes is pleased to announce the first National Veterans History Event in Chatham County on Saturday July 19th, as a volunteer service in conjunction with the Cary-based National History Archival Institute.

At no cost, Stanton Homes and the NHAI will record stories of military service, in the voice of those who have served. They are looking for personal accounts of day-to-day activities as well as history-changing conflicts, to become a part of the nation's historical records.

"We want to capture the memories of local heroes - no matter when or where they served," said Stan Williams, CEO of Stanton Homes. "If you know any veterans who may be interested in sharing stories of their service for our country, please let them know about the National History Project, and this local opportunity."

Veterans are urged to bring their service records and any other documentation. In some cases, these are the only remaining records of military service, as millions of records were destroyed in a 1973 fire.

Stanton Homes and the NHAI will carefully photograph each of these personal documents, which will become part of the NHAI's attempt to help reconstruct these service records.  Reconstructed records will allow military burial honors to former servicemembers who otherwise may be denied, as no records of their service still exist in government facilities.

"Veterans want to be interviewed because they have a sense of duty that goes beyond self. Most veterans will gladly tell their story, if they would just be asked. We have not asked, but we are asking now," said Dave Milidonis, veteran and founder of the NHAI. "If we wait any longer, first hand accounts of our WWII and Korean War veterans will be lost forever. We want to be sure that we are moving quickly to record these, as well as more recent accounts of service in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Stanton Homes will be hosting these veteran interviews on Saturday July 19th from 12pm-4pm in Cattail Creek, about 10 minutes northwest of Pittsboro.

"The NHAI told us they needed a place for veterans to relax and tell their stories in the area of Siler City, Pittsboro, and Chapel Hill," said Williams. "We're pleased to offer a comfortable environment, with refreshments for the men and women in uniform we consider to be heroes, along with their families."

Appointments are recommended, and drop-ins are welcome. Contact Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070, or Dave Milidonis of the NHAI at 919-449-5440, or by email Info@StantonHomes.com. Call or email for complete directions to the interview site.

"Whether a veteran of WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, or peacetime operations, you have a unique story, and we the nation want to hear it," said Williams.

Copies of interviews will be sent to the National Archives in Washington DC (wartime records only), stored with NHAI, and also given to the Armed Forces member to save as part of their family history.


About the National Veterans History Archival Institute
There are over 20 million veterans living in the United States today, and every day we lose 1,600 of them. Motivated by the urgent need to collect the stories and experiences of veterans while they are still among us, the United States Congress created the Veterans History Project. As a collecting partner, the NVHAI is serving under Public Law 106-380 to collect and preserve audio- and video-oral histories, along with documentary materials such as letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and home movies of America's veterans and those who served in support of them.
Find out more at http://veteranshistoryinstitute.org/, or email Dave Milidonis at info@veteranshistoryinstitute.org.

Millions of Americans - Millions of Stories

Tell your story -- no story or sacrifice too small.......

In 1973 a tragic fire destroyed millions of service records of our service men and women.

You may have the only existing record of their service included with your records, travel orders, separation documents and other listings.

Please share your records with us and help restore the service history of those whose records were lost -  as well as share your stories in an interview.

Wartime and peacetime veterans welcome, including Merchant Marines.

  

National Veteran's History Open House

Saturday July 19th, 2008

12 pm - 4 pm                    752 Rebecca Lane

Cattail Creek near Pittsboro, NC

  click here for directions

Free Event  -  Refreshments Will Be Served

 

Stanton Homes, in association with National Veterans History Archival Institute, is helping preserve memories of American veterans who have witnessed and helped shape our nation's history.  A veteran's memories of military service are worth preserving and sharing with students of all ages and are an important gift to our nation's story.   Come tell us your story.