The Veterans History Project

Statement

Veterans Day reminds us that with each passing day, we lose more and more of our brave neighbors and friends who risked their lives for our freedom and security. Each veteran is a living treasure with a valuable story to tell, and future generations must hear these stories.

This week, I visited Oceanside High School with a local Navy veteran to encourage Long Islanders, especially our young people, to contribute to the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. The project collects and preserves the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may access and learn from them.

Students have contributed significantly to this project throughout the years, using their natural curiosity and scholarship to bridge the gap between generations and help capture and submit the stories of local veterans for the Project.

Oceanside World War II veteran Joe Librizzi demonstrated just how easy and interesting it is to collect stories from veterans, with Mr. Librizzi describing his experience serving on the U.S.S. Balao submarine in the Pacific Ocean between 1943 and 1946. He served as an Electrician Mate 2nd Class, helping to operate the submarine that later starred as the "pink submarine" in the 1959 Cary Grant film Operation Petticoat. Mr. Librizzi answered not only questions from the students, but some questions that I had about his service as well.

The Veterans History Project relies on volunteers, both individuals and organizations, throughout the nation to contribute veterans' stories. In addition to audio- and video-recorded interviews, the Project accepts written memoirs, collections of original photographs and letters, diaries, maps, and other historical documents from World War I through current conflicts.

This Veteran's Day, I encourage you to participate in the Veteran's History Project. You can take part by interviewing a war veteran and bringing their stories to my office. I will help you submit them to the Library of Congress, where they could become part of the Library's permanent collection. There are valuable lessons to be learned in our veterans' stories -- lessons that will help ensure that future generations of Americans will never take their freedom and liberties for granted.

Please feel free to visit my website for more information about this project. As always, it is a pleasure to serve you in Congress. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, or if my staff can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Carolyn McCarthy
Member of Congress

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