Arizona Veterans History Project

Vanity | Self

[pfflier]

Local Arizona high schoolers are interviewing veterans to publish their stories in a book titled Since You Asked. This is a hardbound anthology covering veteran's stories from WWII to the present and new volumes are published when approximately 60 new stories are collected.

The book is divided into eras (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Cold War, Desert Storm, War on Terror etc) and the average story and associated pictures is about 3-4 pages long.

It is a living project and volumes are published as soon as enough material is gathered. Each story is based on a student's interview with a veteran. The stories are periodically compiled and published as part of the Veterans History Project sponsored by the Library of Congress.

I was contacted by a former teacher colleague and was interviewed today. It is a very interesting experience considering the age gap between the interviewer and someone my age. It was very clear all their knowledge and preconceptions of Vietnam and the cold war came from hollywood's versions of reality. They are truly astonished yet appreciative of getting the real stories.

[pfflier]

If you are in the Yuma area and would like to participate, my contact would like to interview about 10 candidates for the spring semester (after January 1).

It is a very worthy project and for the many that I have served with have said "I should write a Book" here's your chance.

If you are interested in participating I can help arrange your contact with the sponsoring teacher in Yuma. Elsewhere in Arizona, contact your local high schools to see if they are participating.

[JimSEA]

As a youngster I heard a lot about MOH recipient Manuel Mendoza from Miami, Arizona.

[pfflier]

Don Stratton from the USS Arizona was a celebrity in Yuma for years. During the annual veteran's day parade, the Pearl Harbor survivors used to have their own float.

Sadly we watch their numbers dwindle and there is no representation of USS Arizona anymore in the parades.

Wreaths Across America has a saying on their website something like:

A person dies twice, when they take their final breath and later, the last time their name is spoken".

I hope we help these students tell the stories that are hidden by time.