The Veterans History Project is a project created by the Library of Congress to document interviews of American veterans. The VHP seeks to record interviews of veterans telling their personal firsthand accounts and experiences in the United States military. The VHP will collect, preserve and make accessible these personal accounts of American wartime veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war and military service. The Illinois Veterans History Project was created by the Illinois State Library to do the same thing, but on a state level.
Interested in participating?
The Sparta Public Library would love to interview you. To qualify for the project you must be a former military veteran who had served in any capacity in the United States military, or a civilian who served in support of a United States war effort in a professional capacity. The library will schedule a recorded interview with you that will last at least 30 minutes. Interviews will be conducted at the Sparta Public Library, in our meeting or genealogy rooms. The interviews will be recorded live, and an interviewer will ask you questions to help guide the conversation during the interview. The questions will cover a wide range of topics, including service memories, before and after service stories, basic training, and much more. The questions for the interview can be tailored for you, and if there is something you are uncomfortable with sharing or being asked we can exclude that from the interview.
Prior to the interview there will be a few forms you will have to fill out, these include interview release forms, and biographical information about yourself. The biographical data form includes information about your service, be sure to fill this form out entirely! We ask that as much as possible these forms be completed before arriving for the interview, but if you need help filling them out or have any questions about them feel free to ask, we would be happy to assist you. After the interview has been recorded, we will stick it on a flash drive or CD and send it to the Library of Congress and the Illinois State Library. Additionally, we will keep a copy of your interview for here at the library. This will be kept as part of our special collection.
If you would like to ask about the project or sign up to be interviewed, please visit the library at 211 W. Broadway, Sparta IL, call the library at: 618-443-5014, or email at: spartaillinoislibrary@gmail.com
Watch all fifteen of the videos taken for the Veteran’s History project below:
Tom Pokrefke
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Susan Colbert interview veteran Tom Pokrefke. The interview covers several topics all related to Tom Pokrefke’s service in the United States Marine Corps.
Gary Rowley
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Susan Colbert interview veteran Gary Rowley. The interview covers several topics all related to Gary Rowley’s service in the United States Navy.
Thomas Garrett
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Susan Colbert interview veteran Thomas Garrett. The interview covers several topics all related to Thomas Garrett’s service in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army.
James Rowold
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Lynette Jalivay interview veteran James Rowold. The interview covers several topics all related to James Rowold’s service in the United States Marine Corps.
Wayne Eldridge
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Lynette Jalivay interview veteran Wayne Eldridge. The interview covers several topics all related to Wayne Eldridge’s service in the United States Army.
Melvin Anderson
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Lynette Jalivay interview veteran Melvin Anderson. The interview covers several topics all related to Melvin Anderson’s service in the United States Air Force.
William Sivels
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Susan Colbert interview veteran William Sivels. The interview covers several topics all related to William Sivel’s service in the United States Army.
Norbert Huether
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Susan Colbert interview veteran Norbert Huether. The interview covers several topics all related to Norbert Huether’s service in the United States Navy.
Dale Phelps
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Susan Colbert interview veteran Dale Phelps. The interview covers several topics all related to Dale Phelps’ service in the United States Airforce.
Ronnie Dunn
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Lynette Jalivay interview veteran Ronnie Dunn. The interview covers several topics all related to Ronnie Dunn’s service in the United States Army.
Dale VanBlair
This video was recorded at the St. Paul Nursing Home as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Kyle Daniels interview veteran Dale VanBlair, a ninety-six (96) year old WWII veteran who lived to tell his story. He was unable to make the trip to Sparta, but wanted to share his story. Library employees Kyle and Lynette agreed to go to Mr. VanBlair’s residence to video and listen to him. He spoke of his experience as a Tail-Gunner as a member of a B-24 crew, flying missions over German-held territory. He talked about his special friend named Shorty and he shared his near death experience of losing one engine from the B-24 Bomber and ending up in icy waters for over an hour before his rescue, only to name a few. His story will keep you in emotional suspense. The Library was able to obtain an autographed copy of his book, LOOKING BACK, A Tail Gunner’s View of WWII be sure to check this book out at the Sparta Public Library.
Gary Stork
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Jonathan Williams interview veteran Gary Stork. The interview covers several topics all related to Gary Stork’s service in the United States Army.
Gene Morganstern
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Samantha McManus interview veteran Gene Morganstern. The interview covers several topics all related to Gene Morganstern’s service in the United States Air Force.
Jack Bivens
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Samantha McManus interview veteran Jack Bivens. The interview covers several topics all related to Jack Biven’s service in the United States Marines.
Larry Ruebke
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Jonathan Williams interview veteran Larry Ruebke. The interview covers several topics all related to Larry Ruebke’s service in the United States Army.
Kenny Vosholler
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Samantha McManus interview veteran Kenny Vosholler. The interview covers several topics all related to Kenny Vosholler’s service in the United States Navy.
John Kirby
This video was recorded at the Sparta Public Library as part of the Veterans History Project. In it you will hear Kolton Jones interview veteran John Kirby. The interview covers several topics all related to John Kirby’s service in the United States Navy.
Below is a video of the Vietnam War Display, that was featured at the Sparta Public Library the fall of 2017. The memorial plaques can still be viewed at the library in the special collections room.
Music Credit: DOCUMENTARY by JMTV