Oct 18
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga will host event aimed at recording memories of war veterans
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga will host event aimed at recording memories of war veterans
Published: Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 8:46 PM Updated: Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 10:30 PM
By Jim Harger | The Grand Rapids Press
HOLLAND – U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga knew his 89-year-old father was injured in the crash of a B-24 bomber during World War II.
But it took an interview with the Veterans History Project for him to learn details of the two days Gerald Huizenga spent huddled under the tail section of the shattered bomber as he listened to his fellow crew members die on that hillside in Italy.
That’s why Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, is hosting a program this Monday to introduce the project to veterans of any war at the Disabled American Veterans Hall #14 in Holland.
“Anything we can do to help these guys heal those wounds and anything we can to capture these experiences so future generation can learn, that’s very important to me,” said Huizenga, who traveled with his dad to Italy to re-visit the battle fields.
The Veteran History Project is open to veterans of any war, those who supported war efforts and their families. Created by Congress in 2000, the program is aimed at collecting, preserving and making accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans.
James Smither, director of the Veterans History Project at Grand Valley State University, will introduce the interview process and be available to answer questions about the project. Huizenga will interview a veteran as an example of the project.
Veterans will be able to fill out registration forms to share their story and sign up to schedule a time for a videotaped interview.
“It is one of my proudest moments in office to be able to meet, thank and hear the stories of our brave veterans who sacrificed so much to serve their country,” Huizenga said.
Since starting the project in earnest in 2007, Smither said they have interviewed more than 600 veterans and posted most of them on a web site, http://gvsu.cdmhost.com/gvpages/veterans.php
While the project originally focused on aging World War II veterans, Smither said it also has attracted veterans who fought in Korea, Vietnam and more recently, Iraq and Afghanistan.
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