The National Veterans Freedom Park
News

82nd Airborne Division Begins Collecting Veterans' Interviews for the National Veterans Freedom Park (March 2008)

In keeping with the spirit of the NVFP to tell the story of freedom as told by the veterans who preserved it, and after much planning and groundwork, the 82nd ABN DIV Has begun the interview process for the NVFP. Elements of the 82nd Airborne Division are recording their own interviews for archiving and distribution by the National Veterans Freedom Park Foundation, Inc. SSG Alex Licea, PAO for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) will head up the initial effort while the brigade is still in garrison at Ft. Bragg... (Download full newsletter).

NVFP Collects History of 82nd Airborne Division (November 2007)

Beginning in December 2007, the NVFP will begin the long-term project of collecting the oral histories of current active-duty personnel assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg. The goal of this project is to record the oral histories of each member of the division in both video and audio formats. These individual histories will then be copied for each participant for their own libraries. As a collecting partner for the Veterans History Project, copies will also be archived at the National Archives, Library of Congress, in Washington, D.C... (Download full newsletter).

Hundreds of Stories and Thousands of Names (September 2007)

Since the Cary Lazy Daze event of August 25, 2007, the National Veterans Freedom Park staff and Education Committee volunteers have interviewed nearly 100 veterans, in conjunction with the Veterans History Project. We are planning to interview several hundred more before the end of this year. Continuing on that pace, this small team of the NVFP, by itself, will have contributed a large percentage of the total annual nation-wide interviews delivered to the Library of Congress this year... (Download full newsletter).

"Why We Do What We Do…" (June 2007)

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a group of graduates representing our various military academies. At the end of my presentation, I was approached by Mr. Van Warren, a Class of 1986 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He had been inspired and shared with me an article he wrote in the Fall of 2006, which was never published. After having read it and wiping some tears away, I asked his permission and received it to share his article with you. The picture of the striking cadet below is of 2nd LT Emily Perez and her story is what Van passed on to me... (Download full newsletter).

A Veterans Story Day, May 25, 2007 (April s2007)

The NC Veterans Freedom Park presents the 1st Annual Veterans Story Day and invites you to the Park at N. Harrison Ave., Cary, NC, Friday, May 25, 2007, anytime between 9 am and 5 pm. Spend some personal time with the heroes of our nation, the veterans, as they tell their stories of serving our country. Learn why the veteran knows a very special definition of Freedom and come to know that definition for yourself through their experiences. Meet veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf and Iraq, and all eras in-between. Talk with them, ask them questions, listen to their stories and learn what freedom means to them... (Download full newsletter).

NCVFP Education Committee Embarks on Bold Strategy! (August 2006)

"Recognize that Freedom comes at a heavy, heavy cost. If we’re not ready to stand up and be counted, you can bet we will lose….Recognize that everyone has to get in their and do their part. We have a responsibility and we have to live up to it." -Col. Hal Shook, July 2006. The NCVFP Education Committee has now embarked on an ambitious campaign, collecting veterans stories, as well as homefront civilian stories, in video, audio and written format. These personal histories will not only be utilized as part of the NCVFP program, but; will become part of the Veterans History Project collection, sponsored by the Library of Congress, of which the NCVFP is a collecting partner... (Download full newsletter).

North Carolina Veterans Freedom Park Foundation Hires First Executive Director (February 2006)

The North Carolina Veterans Freedom Park Foundation announced today that it has hired David Milidonis as its first Executive Director. The Executive Director is the senior executive for the foundation and is responsible for working with and for the Executive Committee. Milidonis' primary responsibilities will involve fundraising, park design and development, marketing, communications, community relations, and financial management. (Download full newsletter).