| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Theresa |
Posted - June 06 2002 : 09:18:42 AM
This was in my newspaper this morning and most likely was in yours as well. In case it wasn't, I'm posting it because I thought some of you may know some veterans that could contribute.
D-Day anniversary marks start of oral history project
By Richard Pyle, The Associated Press
New York - Concerned that history may be dying along with 1,500 American war veterans every day, archivists are launching an urgent effort to get their stories down in video and audio tapes for future reference.
The Verterans History Project was to be formally announced today, the 58th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of France, at the USS Intrepid sea-air-space museum in New York.
"This is the raw material for a more comprehensive history than any ever written about a nation at war," said Dr. James Billington, the librarian of Congress, whose institution leads the project along with the American Association of Retired Persons.
He said the project seeks to amass personal memories of America's five major 20th century wars in "all media" - letters, diaries and other written material, but the most important element is the "oral testimony" recorded on tape.
It provides a history of war from the botton up, the soldier's perspective, as opposed to written histories that traditionally focused on the generals and grand strategy, Billington said in a telelphone interview.
"The oral testimony allows us to see the expression on people's faces, how they experienced war emotionally as well as personally and intellectually," he said.
The Veterans History Project, initiated by Congress and signed into law by former President Clinton in 2000, is run by the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center.
It has a council of political, military and journalist figures, including former Sen. Bob Dole, retired CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, war historian Stephen Ambrose and Everett Alvarez, Jr., the longest-held American prisoner of war in Vietnam, later a top Veterans Admisistration official.
There are about 19 million war veterans in the United States, most of them from World War II. But the rate at which they, and Korean veterans, are disappearing - about 1,200 a day - lends urgency to the history project.
About 200 organizations nationwaide are participants in the project, which seeks to have as many veterans as possible recall their experiences in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War - "even the few that are left" from World War I, Billington said.
The project encourages schools, libraries, veterans groups and other local entities to seek out veterans to tell their stories. A kit for the purpose is available from its Web site.
www.loc.gov/folklife/vets
Theresa |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Theresa |
Posted - June 06 2004 : 8:45:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Kate
That was sweet of you. I wasn't upset about it. But you're right. It took the soldiers from A LOT of countries to get the Nazi's out of Europe. And unfortunately, it was the CANADIANS that sustained the highest casualties...
So, SOOO sad that it took so much death to get rid of so much evil. But the evil was conquered And as long as we 'remember', they won't have died in vain... 
Aw, shucks, Kate. I knew you weren't upset. And you're right about the evil being conquered...we shall never forget that those brave soldiers' deaths were not in vain. I also know the French are grateful for their liberation....they now know how the Iraqis feel. |
| Kate |
Posted - June 06 2004 : 6:08:59 PM
That was sweet of you. I wasn't upset about it. But you're right. It took the soldiers from A LOT of countries to get the Nazi's out of Europe. And unfortunately, it was the CANADIANS that sustained the highest casualties...
So, SOOO sad that it took so much death to get rid of so much evil. But the evil was conquered And as long as we 'remember', they won't have died in vain...
|
| Theresa |
Posted - June 06 2004 : 2:36:51 PM
Thank you for this article, Kate. When I posted my comments earlier, I realized I should have phrased it "helped" to liberate Europe as there were many, many others from European countries in the allied force....think I'll go do a little editing.  |
| Kate |
Posted - June 06 2004 : 12:30:20 PM
I just thought that I would post a copy of a couple of items that appeared in last week's edition of the Sunday paper I get. I know they talk of Britain (makes sense, it was in a Scottish paper) but… they refer to the soldiers from ALL the ‘allied’ forces… and the debt that France owes ALL the allied war heroes.
I thought in view of what a bad impression France made of themselves during the 'Iraq' debacle, I’d post the articles so you could see that it was not EVERY French man and woman that the Government represented. Certainly, on the Normandy coast, the French feel a deep sense of gratitude for the Allied Forces… and are commemorating the 60th Anniversary of D-Day with many celebrations, and are showing their heartfelt thanks for what the Allies did.
60th Anniversary
June 6, 1944. It was the day on which the future of civilisation hung, the dawn of the biggest maritime invasion in history - D Day. For five years Europe had cowered under the shadow of the swastika. Now, at last, the Allies were posed to return the bright light of freedom to the Continent.
To achieve that, thousands of ships, planes and tanks were assembled on the south coast of England. But most important were the men. Ordinary men from every walk of life – joiners and postmen, clerks and teachers, snatched from the daily grind, dressed in khaki and given the task of defeating the Third Reich. Men from Britain and its Empire, from America and Canada, from Poland and France and Norway. From anywhere that liberty was valued.
Sixty years ago they fought – and many of them died – on the beaches at Normandy. Next Sunday those who are left will remember the heroism, sacrifice, pain and triumph of that day.
Gravestones tell the True Story of D-Day
Admiral Christian Brac de la Perriere leans back in his seat with a world-weary glint in his eye. “We are a little busy right now”, he says, “I only hope that when June 6 comes I have time to play some bridge.”
It’s the sort of understatement in the face of adversity it’s easy to imagine Allied commanders making 60 years ago. Admiral Brac de la Perriere is president of the committee organising the commemorations and celebrations that will mark 60 years since D-Day next weekend. His task is massive and the security operation surrounding it shows there are still enemies out there, lending the whole event even more poignancy and relevance.
The admiral joined the French Navy just weeks after D-Day and enjoyed a 31 year career. He said, “I have seen war in Indo-China and Algeria so I have huge respect for the veterans of D-Day. “It is an absolute privilege to be asked to chair the organising committee.”
Over 1100 events are planned during the “80 days of emotion and celebration” starting on June 5. The admiral said, “Even very small towns are staging events and they are as important as the international events next weekend. The people of Normandy have very deep respect for the veterans. Over 700 families offered accommodation in their homes for free. The veterans know they are very welcome. The local people who lived through the Battle of Normandy suffered along with the soldiers. The anniversary is important to them, too.”
Around 7000 veterans are expected in Normandy next weekend, half of them British, the other half being various ‘allied’ veterans. But that figure is dwarfed by the 15,000 gendarmes drafted in along with soldiers from the French, American and British armies, to ensure terrorists do not disrupt proceedings. Fifteen heads of state will be in the region.
Taxi driver Sylvain Levrel is very aware of the security operation. “Usually I see no police cars, this morning I have seen 15 already and an American convoy. The young people in Normandy want to celebrate the liberation, but some of the older people are finding it hard given what went on in France during the war. But with all the events and fireworks, some are losing sight of the sacrifice made by s |
| Jayne |
Posted - June 06 2004 : 11:49:39 AM
Wilderness Woman,
Hearing such personal stories really brings home the reality. I just can't imagine my 18 yr old son carrying the tremendous responsibility that Ray had. 17, 18, 19...still kids.
Give my best to Ray. And my thanks. 
Jayne |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - June 06 2004 : 10:21:38 AM
The agency for the blind that I work for had a gentleman employed for a while, as a driver for one of our Rehabilitation Teachers, who is herself nearly blind.
One day I was talking to Ray, and noticed that he was wearing a baseball-style cap that had reference to a Naval unit. I asked him if he was a Korean War vet, because he looked about the appropriate age.
He said, no, that he was in WW II. My eyes popped and he said that he quit high school and joined the Navy in 1942, when he was 17. Then he went on to tell me that at the tender age of 19, he drove an LST... and he "put boys on the beach at Normandy." He went on to say that when he saw the movie "Saving Private Ryan", he literally bawled like a baby.
He is now 79 years old and suffers from emphysema. God Bless you, Ray! God Bless all of you who were involved in this amazing event. |
| Theresa |
Posted - June 06 2004 : 09:21:53 AM
The 60th Anniversary of D-Day has much been in the news this weekend...and rightly so. What our nation did to help liberate Europe from Nazi Germany is something of which we as Americans should all be very proud.
The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you."
- General Dwight D Eisenhower, address to his troops D-Day 1944 |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - October 29 2002 : 08:24:45 AM
Thanks for the link, I might go there and relate some stories from my 'Adventures in Mesopotamia'. Nothing John Wayne like in stature, then again only a fool is not scared when 7.62 and 5.45 rounds are whistling past you. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. All in all, the real kick in the teeth came from no beer (Courtesy of our 'friends' in Saudi Arabia, it would have offended the 'Religon of Peace') and no free smokes (Courtesy of the anti-smoking nazis in the U.S., at that time I was praying that I'd live long enough for a ciggarette to kill me!)
Your Humble Servant,
Sgt. Duncan Munro
Capt. Graham's Coy
1/42nd Royal Highlanders
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" |
| Adele |
Posted - October 29 2002 : 05:54:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Theresa:
This was in my newspaper this morning and most likely was in yours as well. In case it wasn't, I'm posting it because I thought some of you may know some veterans that could contribute.
D-Day anniversary marks start of oral history project
By Richard Pyle, The Associated Press
New York - Concerned that history may be dying along with 1,500 American war veterans every day, archivists are launching an urgent effort to get their stories down in video and audio tapes for future reference.
The Verterans History Project was to be formally announced today, the 58th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of France, at the USS Intrepid sea-air-space museum in New York.
"This is the raw material for a more comprehensive history than any ever written about a nation at war," said Dr. James Billington, the librarian of Congress, whose institution leads the project along with the American Association of Retired Persons.
He said the project seeks to amass personal memories of America's five major 20th century wars in "all media" - letters, diaries and other written material, but the most important element is the "oral testimony" recorded on tape.
It provides a history of war from the botton up, the soldier's perspective, as opposed to written histories that traditionally focused on the generals and grand strategy, Billington said in a telelphone interview.
"The oral testimony allows us to see the expression on people's faces, how they experienced war emotionally as well as personally and intellectually," he said.
The Veterans History Project, initiated by Congress and signed into law by former President Clinton in 2000, is run by the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center.
It has a council of political, military and journalist figures, including former Sen. Bob Dole, retired CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, war historian Stephen Ambrose and Everett Alvarez, Jr., the longest-held American prisoner of war in Vietnam, later a top Veterans Admisistration official.
There are about 19 million war veterans in the United States, most of them from World War II. But the rate at which they, and Korean veterans, are disappearing - about 1,200 a day - lends urgency to the history project.
About 200 organizations nationwaide are participants in the project, which seeks to have as many veterans as possible recall their experiences in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War - "even the few that are left" from World War I, Billington said.
The project encourages schools, libraries, veterans groups and other local entities to seek out veterans to tell their stories. A kit for the purpose is available from its Web site.
www.loc.gov/folklife/vets
Theresa
I think that is excellent news Theresa. Steven Spielbergs Shoah Visual History Foundation is a great example of this method of capturing history through personal testimony - it contains 50,000 testimonies from 57 countries in 32 languages. It is a wonderful means of education, since it provides a much more human, real means of communicating the past.
This is the Shoah Visual History Foundation link, for those interested...
http://www.vhf.org/index.htm
There are some things that just can't be captured in a book....and I hope that this type of history capture will be broadened to cover not only war history, but other life history too.
HM
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| SgtMunro |
Posted - October 29 2002 : 01:53:09 AM
While I was stationed in Europe in the Eighties, I had several tours of the Normandy Beachead. I got to see the spot at Omaha where my grandad set foot, along with two of my great uncles. I also got to see Utah, where one of my other great uncles came through as well as the scattered DZ that my great uncle Joe came in with the 101st. Out of all of them, only my grandad and my great uncle Joe survived after the morning of the 6th. My grandad ended up making a career of the Army, he used to say "Tiger, if you cut my arm, you'll see I bleed Infantry Blue."
God Bless You Grandpap, another Vogler guarding the gates to Heaven.
Sgt. Duncan Munro
Capt. Graham's Coy
1/42nd Royal Highlanders
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" |
| richfed |
Posted - June 06 2002 : 09:41:27 AM
This is a tool they never had in the "old days" ... Oliver North's War Stories, makes excellent use of the Veteran. Great series! This past Sunday, the topic was D-Day. It was rather odd, and eerie, seeing some of the video footage ... Saving Private Ryan certainly had it right!
Hearing of the tricks the Allies used - like rubber armored vehicles & tanks set up as decoys in England, to make the Germans believe an Army was forming for an assault [in a bogus place] - reminds me of Washington having hundreds of campfires lit to convince the British his Army was stationary, when, in fact, they had moved on - and makes me wonder what tricks we may presently have in store for Iraq & company! |
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