June 26, 2009

  • Veterans' History Project

    I started work on the Veterans History Project today at the local Senior Center (www.loc.gov/vets).   I'd gone over there to volunteer to help those less knowledgeable souls with the center's computers.  I know, it's hard to imagine anyone less knowledgeable than I am but there actually are a few.  They are mostly over eighty but, God love'em, they're willing to try. 

    It's interesting teaching seniors how to navigate on a computer.  You need to give them only the barest minimum of instruction because they can't remember more than one or two things at a sitting.  To that end, the other guy who gives instruction there, has taught them to always double click the mouse because they can't remember when it takes one click and when it takes two.  He figures if they always use two clicks it does no harm and they only have to remember one thing.  Indeed, it works most of the time.

    So anyway, when the senior director got wind of my talents (the fact that I was breathing and unemployed was talent enough) she turned the whole thing over to me.  My mission is to interview and record the stories of veterans and teach others to conduct interviews.  When the interviews are completed they will be sent to the Library of Congress where they will collect dust in perpetuity.

    I conducted my first interview this afternoon with a WWII bomber pilot.  He is 87 and still has an amazing memory for the details.  We both had so much fun!  He was telling me of his flight home after Germany surrendered when he suddenly asked me to turn off the camera for a moment.  In all seriousness he asked me how he should describe the two young Red Cross women in Greenland who were making a little (or probably a lot) of extra money by "entertaining" the troops who stopped on the island on their way home.  Sixty-four years after the fact, this gentleman was concerned about propriety.  He neither wanted to record anything that would tarnish the reputation of the Red Cross nor say anything that might identify the two entrepreneurial girls. 

    From the twinkle in his eyes I could tell there were many interesting tales that would never make it to the Library of Congress.  I suggested that a separate interview might cover some of the more intimate skirmishes.

    I think I've finally found something that I love doing, now if I could only find a way to get someone to pay me to do it, I could quit pretending to look for work. 

Comments (14)

  • i think you're cheating history if you don't put all the details, even the details about red cross women selling tales.  do it!

  • What a fabulous wonderful opportunity for you. It is amazing the experiences that find us. Your job is to show up. You are the perfect employee.

  • What a great thing to do , I am sure you will enjoy listent to all the Vets

  • Aha!  Now you have found a source of endless articles and another potential money making opportunity.  Why not contact the editor of the newspaper in that area and tell them what you are doing.  You could inquire if they would be interested in paying you to provide a spotlight article like "Veteran of the Week".  There you could use your interview to recognize a local veteran in the newspaper.  Not only does it accomplish the purpose for the Veterans History Project, but also recognizes them in their own community.   I am sure that would be appreciated.

  • As soon as you told me what you would be doing I knew you were not only perfect for the job, but would have a great time doing it.  It would be a real waste not to include all the sordid details. You must convince him to allow you to record the fun stuff as well as the sad parts.

    Remember the photo project of the depression years?  It is famous and haunting because its photographers showed the real state of affairs.  Had they glossed over the gritty truth it would have "collected dust into perpetuity".

    If there aren't any rules against using the info for personal gain, you definitely should sell the stories.  Zarnicki is right.  If your news articles include that it is a federal project your particpation is part of the story.

  • "unemployed and breathing) HA! probably the most important qualification of all for a volunteer that and a good heart.
    Are you going to do this in a Q an A form or write about what they told you?

  • @ElevenStones - The project has a field kit that outlines the suggested questions to ask, but my first victim was well prepared with what he wanted to say and needed no prodding.  All of the interviews are recorded on video and editing isn't even allowed, so there is no laborious transcribing and the vet's descriptions aren't filtered by my views.  Since I'm a pacifist, that's a good thing.

    @babs430 - Nate seems eager to tell me all the spicy details but doesn't want them recorded for the Library of Congress.  He also swore me to secrecy where his kids are concerned.  His kids are older than I am !

    @zarnicki - You are such a go-getter!  Just think where I would be today if I had married you thirty-six years ago! 

    @englishjuls - I'm learning about your country too as Nate, a bomber pilot, was stationed in England.  He was was highly impressed with the dancing skills of the English.  Who knows, perhaps your mother danced with him .

    @queenie - Well, I admit, they're getting their money's worth.  I, on the other hand, feel like I should be paying them for the entertainment. 

    @curtainsopen - I think you're right.  By this time most of the people involved would be flattered to be remembered as the sluts they actually were.  I have twenty minutes left to tape; I'll see how titilating I can get it.

  • I'm jealous. I'd love to be doing what you're doing

    (Hey, as far as making this your job is concerned, you might check government listings for jobs. I don't know what state you're in, so I can't provide a link, but states sometimes have openings in their 'heritage' departments. There was recently a listing in my area for museum assistant, duties to include things along the line of what you're doing.)

  • @Jaspro - You can do it too!  Go to http://www.loc.gov/vets for all the details.  It's a nationwide volunteer effort.  I'm having so much fun with it and I'm making new friends at the same time. 

  • It is not just seniors. 

    I have taught entry-level personnel computer skills and corporate oriented procedures. After a few Items, they become sieves of knowledge.

  • @Curse_of_Greyface - Ha ha "sieves of knowledge"!  I had to ponder that for a few seconds to catch your drift.  You're right, the human brain is inferior to a computer in the memory department at any age.

  • That river sounds like heaven on earth, where was it?

  • Now, if i were to embark on any sort of volunteer work, this is what i would be going for!

  • @angelyn_lee - It is loads of fun and tons of work.  Having worked all my life, I felt a bit useless when I lost my job.  This project has put me back on an even keel.

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