Veterans share stories of their past Project to be preserved at the Library of Congress By PAULA BARR Daily Journal Staff Writer Monday, November 10, 2008 Getting veterans to tell their stories can be difficult, especially when doing so brings back unwanted memories. As a former serviceman, Don Polacek understands that. But he hopes men and women will see the importance of preserving history and will overcome their reluctance to help with the Veterans History Project. “This is something they want to put behind them. They saw things they don’t want to think about or talk about,” Polacek said. “But this way, kids will have a better picture of what really went on.” The mission of the Veterans History Project is to collect, preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of veterans so that future generations will have a clearer picture of the realities of war, Polacek said. The project was established by Congress in 2000 to collect the stories of soldiers, support staff, medical volunteers, war industry, USO workers and others involved in the war effort. The focus, however, is on personal accounts from veterans of World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Their stories, documents, and other items will be preserved in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Among the items included in the collection are original narratives/memoirs, and wartime diaries or journals of at least 20 pages; collections of 10 or more letters; official military documents; and collections of 10 or more original photos or artwork. Documents may be submitted on behalf of a deceased veteran. Getting veterans over their reluctance to share their experiences is a challenge. One veteran shared with Polacek several stories that others had related, but said he had none of his own. That is a common response, but one that Polacek challenges. Everyone has a story, he tells them. “They all say that they don’t have any stories to tell,” he said. “Or they say, ‘I have the same stories as everybody else. Why should mine be important?’” Polacek, a member of American Legion Post 416, said veterans can share as much or little as they are comfortable discussing. The veterans can be filmed on a video recorder or they can choose to use only an audio recorder. They can be interviewed or relate their stories in private at the Factory or in the public library. Polacek began the local project about three months ago as an offshoot of his responsibilities as Post historian. He sets up his display and talks with veterans from noon to 2 p.m. Thursdays and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays at The Factory in Farmington. Larry Daniels, owner of The Factory, lets veterans use the digital recorder on his I-Phone to tell their stories. Veterans are asked to talk for at least 30 minutes, but Polacek said shorter versions would be accepted. Those who have trouble getting started might find it easier to be interviewed than giving a narrative. Daniels then transfers the files to the computer, where they can be burned onto discs to send to the Library of Congress. He makes a copy for the veteran as well. The Farmington Public Library also provides veterans with an opportunity to record their stories. The process is self-directed at the library, head librarian Karen Roman said. “They can check out a notebook and a recorder just by leaving a driver’s license or library card at the desk,” Roman explained. “They fill out the forms in the notebook and tell their stories. We will assist in making the copies that can be sent in to the Library of Congress.” Veterans can share their stories during regular library hours, which are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. No appointment is needed to participate in the project at either location. For more information, call Polacek at 573-330-8992.