It's an exciting time for the Library of Congress because 100,000 narratives written by veterans have been collected, in just 16 years. This compilation was all made possible because of the veterans who served in World War I as well as those serving up through the most recent activity in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to Military Times. This library-sponsored program, known as the Veterans History Project, was created by the U.S. Congress in 2000, the Library of Congress stated.
The Veterans History Project was built to be cherished and shared by all. Catch a glimpse into the life of a veteran at war while reading their moving words regarding first-hand experiences while serving our country. These memorable stories are available in the library's archive to be seen by current and future generations who will be able to grasp a better understanding for what these veterans went through.
In an article from the Military Times, director of the Veterans History Project, Robert Patrick said, "There are more than 22 million veterans still living in the United States, and it is our hope that even more volunteers will come forward to interview the veterans in their lives and communities and also submit original photographs, letters and other correspondence to be preserved for researchers now and to inspire future generations."
A majority of the collection is made up of veterans from World War II, followed by the Vietnam War and veterans serving most recently in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with the countless other Americans who have fought throughout the years, Military Times stated. Though the number of collected archives is high, veterans who have served or are continuing to do so, are encouraged to continue submitting their stories so the archives never stop continuing to grow.