IRSC Joins Congressman Brian Mast in Operation Sacred Legacy
Volunteer for Operation Sacred Legacy Today
November 30, 2022 Suzanne Seldes
Project Seeks to Grow Participation in the Veterans History Project
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL— Today, Indian River State College and the Office of U.S. Congressman Brian Mast announced Operation Sacred Legacy, an effort to provide as many local veteran interviews as possible for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. The initiative seeks to attract oral histories from the more than 60,000 veterans residing in St. Lucie, Martin and northern Palm Beach counties, and others in the IRSC service district, including veteran residents of Indian River and Okeechobee counties.
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast, left, joined IRSC President Timothy Moore in a video to announce the Operation Sacred Legacy project.
Volunteer for Operation Sacred Legacy Today.
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center collects and preserves the firsthand interviews and narratives of United States military veterans from World War I through the present. The national archive contains submissions from every state and the U.S. territories. It is accessible at https://www.loc.gov/vets/index.html.
“Our nation is built on a proud tradition of military service, and that’s a legacy that must be passed on to future generations,” Rep. Mast said. “Participating in the Veterans’ History Project is an excellent way to make sure your story can inspire those who follow in your footsteps and choose to serve. I hope that every veteran in our community will take advantage of this opportunity.”
IRSC will dedicate space in its Pruitt Campus Veterans Center of Excellence (VCE) in Port St. Lucie as the permanent home for Operation Sacred Legacy. Veterans, volunteers, and staff will meet here monthly to record the military service video histories. The College will also provide opportunities for veterans to record oral histories at its Chastain Campus in Stuart.
“Our Veterans Center of Excellence is a permanent expression of gratitude for those who served and continue to serve our great nation with pride and dignity,” said IRSC President and Army Veteran Dr. Timothy Moore. “We are honored to join with Congressman Mast to unveil Operation Sacred Legacy and be a partner in this critical initiative to preserve our nation’s history through the stories of these brave men and women.”
The Veterans History Project is seeking volunteers to help conduct interviews with veterans from across the community. Individuals interested in serving as volunteer interviewers and scribes must be at least 16 years old and attend a training session. Volunteer training sessions are scheduled for January in Stuart and Port St. Lucie. To sign up, visit www.irsc.edu/veterans-services/osl.
- Thursday, January 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the IRSC Chastain Campus, Wolf High-Tech Center, Room C-101, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, in Stuart
- Friday, January 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Veterans Center of Excellence on the IRSC Pruitt Campus, 500 N.W. California Blvd., in Port St. Lucie
Veterans interested in adding their story to the Veterans History Project should visit https://mast.house.gov/vhp to reserve a time for an upcoming filming session.
