Everyday, the list of living United States veterans shortens as age begins to take these heroes from us.

In 2000, the U.S. Congress recognized this fact and created the Veterans History Project. The legislation calls upon the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to collect and preserve audio and videotaped oral histories from these men and women. In addition, the project looks to collect letters, photographs, home movies, documents and anything else that these veterans may have that will better preserve their experiences for future generations.

Beginning at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 8, students will kickoff the San Antonio chapter in this rich history. The students, using video equipment, will interview local Purple Heart recipients. The veterans belong to the Military Order of the Purple Heart (Alamo Chapter 1836), and are represented by people who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. All interviews will take place in the Learning Resource Center on campus. (There are more than 500 Purple Heart recipients in the San Antonio area.) Further interviews will take place Feb. 22, March 1, March 8 and March 22, 2002. Note to Media: Contact Andrew Hill, assistant director of the Service Learning Center at 431-2108, or Bill Crumlett, vice commander of Alamo Chapter 1836 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, at 522-2072 for more information.

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