War Veteran History Projects

Posted on November 1, 2008 by moonbridgebooks

During the next few weeks, the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in tandem with the National Endowment for the Arts’ Operation Homecoming, is conducting writing workshops for military veterans to help them tell their stories about life in the military. What a great way to kickoff November as National Lifewriting Month, with Veterans Day on the 11th! Veteran memories are being collected around the country as we realize the wealth of historical treasure hidden inside everyday members of our own communities… history that will be lost if we let our veterans pass away without passing on their experiences. Following are a few programs looking for veterans:

The Veterans History Project, through the Library of Congress, archives personal narratives in any form as well as photos and letters of war veterans and is also interested in stories of citizens actively supporting the war effort through factory work, USO, medical services, etc. Visitors to the website can see or read about some of the veterans’ stories. Anthony Adams of the U.S. Army Air Force has quite an interesting transcript if you’d like to know how a cow got into the bomber bay of his plane or about the firebombing of Tokyo. He verifies my mother’s thought that Mt. Fuji was used as a landmark during the bombing runs.

The Public Library of Cincinnati is assisting the Veterans History Project.

Missouri Veteran Stories Project produces 5-7minute videos of first-hand accounts of the military life of any war vet residing in Missouri, available online and at touch-consoles in the State Capital building.

New York State has a veteran oral history program.

PBS is currently looking for stories about Vietnam, and of course there is the PBS War Stories portal for personal WWII stories.

If you know a war veteran, let them know about one of these sites. Let them know that their stories are valuable pieces of history worth saving. Each of our war veterans is an essay in our big book of American military history.

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Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
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Trunk or Treat – Ten Tips For a New Halloween Tradition

Posted on October 28, 2008 by moonbridgebooks

Sunday afternoon our church tried a “Trunk or Treat” for the first time. Kids under ten years were invited to dress in costume and trick-or-treat from the back ends of one decorated vehicle to another. Being the first time, many of us didn’t realize just how wild we could make a car trunk or van back. Well, “The Amazing Dog Boy,” showed us just how good it could get. Complete with top-hatted carnival barker telling a cursed tail of what lay behind the curtain, the van held a little white dog body with a real talking and woof-woofing man’s head! Waaaay cool! It was the hit of the party! (Sorry, no spoiler pics.) Next year, watch out…

On the political front, one van came dressed for the election with a child costumed as a walking ballot box. Vote, vote, vote! (I’ll spill the results of the upcoming election and tell you that Obama’s side was overflowing with candy.)

Some tips for your own school, church or community trunk-or-treat:

-Pick a theme
-Use the entire trunk, inside, outside, all around, even roof or back windows
-Include a fun game (mini basketball toss, pick a rubber duck, bean bag toss)
-Play some theme music (not too loud)
-Use lights if your vehicle has an outlet
-Adults, dress up!
-Go easy on the scare and gore – little kids are coming
-Consider other activities such as facepainting, tattoos, contests, costume parade
-Bring chairs and your own refreshments
-Bring jackets or blankets!

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Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
Posted in holiday, raising kids | Comments Off on Trunk or Treat – Ten Tips For a New Halloween Tradition

Writing Your Story, Looking from Down to Up

Posted on October 22, 2008 by moonbridgebooks

I know a spunky, upbeat woman named Katie Banister. She is a woman of achievement, a dynamic speaker, an inspiration. She happens to be disabled, or rather “dis-abled,” as she prefers to call it, driving through life seated in a wheelchair. Many would be disheartened in her situation, giving up on dreams, resigned. But Katie is a fighter. She took the bitter fruit of a terrible accident and created her own recipe for success as well as a life mission. Through her company, Access-4-All, Inc., which includes husband Steve, Katie works to educate and advise businesses about the needs of the disabled community, motivates others dealing with physical setbacks, and speaks to school children to help them better understand and feel comfortable around people with disabilities.

Katie has also channeled her experiences into books: Aunt Katie’s Visit for children, The Personal Care Attendant Guide for those needing to find or become a care-giver, and most recently, A Pocket of Poems which is an guide for looking upward and forward through poetry – there can be comfort and healing in the writing of poems.

October is Disability Month. I dare say many of us have a “dis-ability” in some way, whether a physical problem, anxiety or depression, an addiction, a fear, a simmering anger, a feeling of inadequacy – some roadblock in our lives that prevents us from being all that we might dream of. I look to those like Katie, who dare to look life in the face and make a go of it. Yes, she drifts backwards with the current, but she always finds the strength to go on with a good attitude and a sense of what she CAN do. And she uses that can-do energy and talent to help others with her books, her experience, her life story. Give Katie a call if your school, business or organization is looking for a motivational, inspirational and educational speaker.

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Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
Posted in inspiration | Comments Off on Writing Your Story, Looking from Down to Up