Rep. Young announces Hoosier Veterans Voices program

Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District, announced Friday his district is now scheduling interviews for Hoosier Veteran Voices, a program that will record and preserve the personal stories of wartime veterans.

The final product of this project will be audio files stored at the Library of Congress, Trevor Foughty, spokesman for Young, said.

Foughty said former Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. was a big supporter of the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress.

“Rep. Young helped conduct some of the interviews with veterans when he was a staffer for Sen. Lugar, so he was familiar with the program,” Foughty said. “Now that the Senator is no longer in office, we hope to build upon the work that he did to archive these stories from southern Indiana veterans.”

In order to be part of the project, veterans must have served as active military personnel or been reservists called to active duty during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War or the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.  

They must also be retired or honorably discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces, according to a press release from Foughty.

Those interested in having their stories sent to the Library of Congress, or those with questions regarding the Hoosier Veteran Voices program, should contact the Jeffersonville Constituent Service Center at 812-288-3999.

“We think it’s important to record the stories of those who have served so that future generations understand our nation’s rich history of ordinary Americans sacrificing on behalf of their country,” Foughty said.

Young said in a press release that as a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and as a U.S. Representative, he is proud to play a small part in preserving the voices of Hoosier Veterans.

“Like all Americans, I have a deep appreciation for the great sacrifices our wartime veterans have made for this country,” Young said in the release. “Their service to our nation is the reason we enjoy the freedoms we all cherish. Since their timeless stories are essential to inspiring and fostering the patriotic appreciation of future generations, it is important that we record the stories so that they might be passed on.”

— Mary Hauber