National Veterans History Archival Institute
Helping Veterans Tell Their 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.
Find out more about custom homes with Accessible Features, Universal Design, and Specially Adapted Features:
How to Get Started Looking for an Accessible Home
Shower Design Ideas for Accessible Home Bathrooms
Choosing the Right Lot for Your Accessible Home
What is Universal Design, and how does it make living easier?
Top 10 Kitchen Tips - Universal Design
Specially Adapted Housing Grants for Veterans
Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area
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Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more about new homes in the Raleigh area today.
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That is such a GREAT idea and I wish I had the time to sit down and write about some of the things I did and saw in my 22 year Army career. I barely have enough to write posts on my blogs! Aloha and have a great day.
Penny,
Thank you for posting this...we can't even BEGIN to imagine what our Veterans went through...their experiences...I play competitive Texas Hold'em Poker and was sitting next to an older gentleman. He also gave me the excuses you listed above, "oh, you're not interested" or "I don't want to bore you with my life"...but I encouraged him to go on...and he told me things that I couldn't even imagine...for instance they were basically "stranded" at this one enemy camp...and had nothing to eat or drink...and then finally not being able to take the thirst any longer, he drank out of this puddle...and the other soldiers did as well...it wasn't until days later that the "puddle" began to dry up and they saw the corpses decomposing at the bottom! We take for granted each day that we can "complain" about how busy our lives are..."complain" about how much "stress" we have at work, or how the "market' is doing...WE'RE FREE PEOPLE! Free to be able to do anything we want...and we owe it to people like this gentleman, who for a moment, shared with me how he fought for us...
Hi Penny,
What a wonderful event for you to host! These veterans' stories are an important part of our history.
David - Perhaps next time you come to the mainland we can help set up an interview! Please also consider sending copies of commendations, letters, or other documents to the NVHAI. They are the driving force reconstructing the millions of records destroyed in a warehouse fire in the 1970s.
Rebecca - What a story, how awful! If you see this gentleman again, please mention the NVHAI to him. Volunteers are helping gather stories like his from all over the nation, and we may be able to find a volunteer near him. WWII is known as the "Greatest Generation", but there are men and women who have protected us through every conflict, and their stories deserve to be told.
Cynthia - Anything you can do to help spread the word about this organization is appreciated! In NC alone, 40 to 60 veterans are passing away each and every day. It is imperative to capture these stories for future generations.