Veterans Day is a time not only for recognizing and expressing gratitude to those who've served and sacrificed, but also for reflection about veterans' experiences.
The Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. It was founded through unanimous vote in both the House and Senate and became Public Law 106-380, October 27, 2000. The project has preserved thousands of individual veterans’ collections, which offer users an unparalleled archive of primary source material.
Developed in response to an effort by the Library of Congress to collect first-hand narratives of U.S. military veterans, the Illinois Veterans History Project creates a permanent record of the names and stories of our state's veterans to ensure that their sacrifices and contributions are not forgotten. The Illinois collection contains more than 6,700 records from Illinois veterans, including 675 oral histories, dating from the Civil War to those serving on active duty. Veterans, civilians, and their family members can share their stories, photos, and mementos through the Illinois Veterans History Project, as well.
