By U.S. Sen. Angus King
(I-Maine)
An aspect of Washington that never ceases to amaze me is the amount of information and opportunities readily available to all. And, it is one of my great honors as a representative of Maine to pass along the knowledge and resources that we can all take part in. An occasion for such information sharing arose last week as my wife, Mary, and I were exploring the Library of Congress. As the two of us walked the halls and navigated the various exhibits and reading rooms, I was interested to learn of an ongoing program the Library sponsors called the Veterans History Project (VHP). The VHP was first established by Congress in 2000 with the purpose of collecting, preserving, and making accessible the personal accounts of our nation’s veterans. The collection is made up of original letters, photographs, journals, and artifacts all contributed by veterans, civilians involved in supporting war efforts, as well as family and friends. This project also provides a unique learning opportunity for students who collaborate with local veterans’ service organizations to gather materials and conduct interviews for submission. The collection is available to researchers and those visiting the Library in the American Folklife Center Reading Room — the project is also in the process of being digitized and made accessible through an online database.
The exhibit currently on display conveys a deep sense of solemnity and provides an honest window into the realities of war and reminded me of the profound respect we owe those brave Americans who have valiantly fought to defend our nation. I also took a measure of comfort in knowing that through these archives we guarantee that their stories will be preserved for generations to come.
I have a reminder in my office that I look at every day: a picture portraying General Joshua Chamberlain leading the charge at the Battle of Little Round Top. Its inscription reads, “The cause for which we fought was higher.” These words are immortalized by every man and woman whose sense of duty has moved them to willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect this great country. Let us remember the sacrifices made by those who came before us whether in our country or abroad.
If you would like to contribute to this project, please contact Mrs. Donna Borden at the Library of Congress at 202-707-4916 or dbor@loc.gov. You can also visit the Library of Congress’ website at www.loc.gov.
