Out on a Limb: War Stories

As our nation commemorates the conflicts of centuries past, I’m reminded that genealogists have another duty: to ensure that the stories of our living veterans aren’t forgotten.

Like so many families, mine has a service record spanning the generations. My grandfather Ralph Stacy fought in World War II. My uncle Jeff Stober served in Vietnam. My cousin Matt Milisits is stationed in Afghanistan now.

Two hundred years from now, I hope our descendants—and yours—won’t have to learn about their forebears’ service from government records alone. Instead, I hope we’ll all capture our veterans’ recollections today for them to enjoy tomorrow.

Here are two ways you can honor and preserve military stories, even if you don’t have a living servicemember in your family:

• Interview a veteran. The Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project is collecting stories, letters and photos from both soldiers and civilians involved in America’s war efforts. Find an interview kit here.
• Sponsor or nominate a veteran to experience an Honor Flight—a program that flies WWII veterans to Washington, DC to visit their memorial. My grandpa’s Honor Flight moved him to open up about wartime experiences he’d never discussed before.