Partners with the Eisenhower Center to Immortalize the Stories of America's Veterans
San Francisco - Military.com (www.military.com), the online home for the 80 million Americans with close ties to the military, today launched the Military.com Living History Project, a groundbreaking initiative that leverages the Internet to collect and immortalize the stories of the millions of Americans who have served their country.
The Military.com Living History initiative is pursued in partnership with the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans, the world's largest source of oral histories by D-Day and Battle of the Bulge veterans. This collection formed the basis for Stephen Ambrose's best-selling books D-Day and Citizen Soldiers.
"This partnership will help us immortalize the stories of our citizen soldiers by bringing their first-person accounts of military history to the World Wide Web," said Ambrose, noted military historian, founding director of the Eisenhower Center and an advisor to Military.com.
In partnership with the Eisenhower Center, Military.com will present thousands of oral histories from the men and women of America's armed forces. Moreover, the Living History Project will inspire veterans around the country to tell their stories and contribute to this lasting legacy. Collecting stories and images via the Internet enables widespread participation and easy browsing of these engaging first-hand accounts.
"The Military.com Living History program salutes the spirit and sacrifice of our veterans, and provides future generations important personal perspectives on historical events," said Christopher Michel, CEO of Military.com. "The Internet is an ideal medium for discovering and sharing the stories of the many heroes in America's military community."
Currently, the Living History Program commemorates World War II with special emphasis on D-Day. Later in June, the program will highlight Korean War veterans on the 50th anniversary of that conflict.
Military.com's Living History Project includes:
- Oral Histories: Detailed recollections of veterans' wartime experiences.
- Veterans' Stories: Letters, photos and journal entries from members of the U.S. Armed Forces from the American Revolution to the present.
- Retrospectives: Accounts of our nation's wars with veterans' words and pictures supported by maps, biographies, articles and feedback from the Military.com community.
About Military.com
Military.com (www.military.com) is the online home for the 80 million Americans with close ties to the military community: active duty, reserve, guard members, retirees, veterans, defense workers, family members and enthusiasts. Military.com is the destination site connecting this community and offering members meaningful content, resources and services. As custodians of America's military heritage, Military.com collects the stories of the men and women who have served. Military.com gives voice to those who made history and gives context to those who want to learn more.
The company, founded by an executive team that includes veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and high-tech professionals, is committed to using the Internet as a better way to keep this community connected. Military.com has offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and is funded by the Mayfield Fund, U.S. Venture Partners, Broadview International and PRIMEDIA Ventures.
About the Eisenhower Center
The Eisenhower Center for American Studies is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to the study and preservation of American history and leadership from a variety of perspectives, including foreign policy, social history, literature and popular culture.
The Eisenhower Center is located next door to the National D-Day Museum, which will open on June 6, 2000. The D-Day museum grew from Eisenhower Center Founding Director Stephen Ambrose's book D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II and Dr. Ambrose's collection of oral histories of D-Day and Battle of the Bulge veterans. The Museum will feature artifacts from Utah and Omaha Beach, including the Higgins Landing Craft. The Eisenhower Center will serve as the research center for the D-Day Museum and other projects, including The Majic Bus, the Stephen E. Ambrose Distinguished Speakers Series, and scholarly conferences.