Being part of the Veteran's History Project is so much more than just sitting for an interview.  I just heard this story - and I hope this encourages Veterans to look around for their old records.

An interview was being held with a Veteran, and Dave Milidonis was videorecording and asking questions.  Suddenly there was a knock on the door.  A funeral director was standing in the open doorway.  "Sorry to interrupt," he said, "but I think you're the only one who can help this family." 

A grieving family had come to the funeral home to make arrangements for their father and grandfather, who had just passed away.  However, when they requested a military burial, they were told that there was no record that this man had served, and he would not be able to be given military honors! 

The director knew that this happens.  He knew about the warehouse fire in 1973 that destroyed 18,000,000 of the 22,000,000 service records and documents stored there.  He also knew that Dave Milidonis and his network of volunteers through the National Veterans History Archival Institute has been working tirelessly to collect documents from thousands of local and not-so-local veterans, and these documents have been archived and cross-referenced to start to put these records back together. 

He told Dave the veteran's name, and Dave immediately searched electronically through the data base that the NVHAI has painstakingly put together, and was happy to report that he had, indeed, started a file to rebuild this former soldier's record.  With the documentation that Dave was able to produce, this family was able to apply for and receive the military burial honors that this soldier deserved. 

Not every story ends as well.

At the time of the fire, there were no computerized records.  So the work the NVHAI does is vitally important.   At every interview they and their partners conduct, veterans are asked to bring any old orders, service records, release paperwork, or anything else they may have. 

Careful digital photographs are made of each document, which is immediately returned to the veteran.   Every document has not only the veterans name on it, but the names of men and women who served with them, dates, and much more.  The NVHAI archives these documents while at the same time sending the same documents to the government so that they could rebuild their records. 

If there is a Veteran in your family, encourage them to be interviewed.  They have a great deal to say, no matter when they served, wartime or peacetime.  And please let them know to bring their documents with them! 

Stanton Homes will be hosting a Veterans Interview Event on Saturday July 19th from 12-4pm.

Appointments are recommended, but drop-ins are welcome. Contact Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070, or Dave Milidonis of the NVHAI at 919-449-5440, or by email Info@StantonHomes.com.  Call or email for complete directions to the interview site, or to have any questions answered about the interview process.

I can also send information and brochures on the program directly to anyone who is interested!  The NVHAI is local to the Triangle area, but does schedule free interviews throughout North Carolina.