By Mike Philips, Veteran 2 Veteran
Gilbert Suns Times
September 29, 2020
It’s been an unprecedented year for the Arizona National Guard. From fighting forest fires to providing pandemic relief and protecting sites from civil unrest, thousands of citizen soldiers have answered the call.
Those soldiers – and the ones who came before – have a chance to tell their stories through a unique program this fall.
The Veterans Heritage Project is an Arizona nonprofit that invites veterans to share their stories with students. The veterans may discuss all aspects of their service – why they joined, what they experienced and how those experiences shaped them.
The students listen, conduct interviews and write the stories that are published in an annual collection. The book is available for purchase and is in the Library of Congress. Participating veterans receive a free copy.
The process is empowering on many levels, said Gilbert resident Craig Houk, a past president of the Project and current board member.