In accordance with the Veterans Legacy Program, which provides funds to educational institutions and nonprofit groups, the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs announced six awards totaling more than $2,187,800.
Through these awards, educators and students across the nation will be able to study, remember and share the experiences of veterans buried in NCA cemeteries, according to a June 28 news release.
“These grants help ensure future generations of Americans will appreciate the legacies of veterans who have given so much for this nation,” Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn said in the release. “This marks the second year the Veterans Legacy Program has provided funding that empowers recipients to research and memorialize veterans, teach students about veterans and develop innovative ways of telling veterans’ stories.”
The 18 groups who submitted for funding through a Notice of Funding Availability released in March 2023 were narrowed down to six after a thorough assessment procedure, the release reported.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will receive $498,714.96 for its World War II: Portraits of Service initiative, according to the release. This will focus on members of the greatest generation whose unsung tales will be featured in five lesson plans, teacher professional development and a touring exhibit. Portraits of Service awards will be awarded to 1o students whose work honors these veterans.
Loyola Marymount University is receiving $370,000, the release reported. The Los Angeles National Cemetery is the site of the LMU Digital Veterans Legacy Project, which will continue to investigate and record the lives of the veterans buried there. LMU will collaborate closely with the community, veteran organizations and high schools in the area.
Finding and sharing the histories of the Buffalo Soldiers and Asian-American Veterans buried in the cemetery will be the main goals of the project, the release said. High school and undergraduate students will also work with the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment at LMU.
Ball State University is set to receive $337,464 to highlight the contributions of Indiana natives who served in the 28th U.S. Colored Troops, the release said. This unit was Indiana's only African American regiment serving the U.S. Army in the Civil War. The lives and military contributions of USCTs buried at Crown Hill National Cemetery and New Albany National Cemetery will be studied by graduate assistants. The findings of this study will be used to create a digital story map, a touring exhibit and lesson plans for instructors.
University of Central Missouri will receive $399,000 for its Veteran Voices from the Heartland Project, according to the release. Biographies of notable and/or underrepresented Black and Native-American veterans will be written.
Research will be done on the Civil War and World War II veterans buried in Fort Scott National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan., as well as the World War II veterans buried at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Mo., the release said. Both of these cemeteries have not been the subject of prior VLP initiatives. For instructors attending the university's summer institute, a research handbook and a website for these digital biographies will be made.
University of Central Florida will use $399,260 to link educators and students with veterans buried in St. Augustine and other Florida National Cemeteries, the release reported. Deliverables will include lesson materials for use in Florida public schools, small tours of Florida national cemeteries and biographies of veterans buried there.
Select veteran bios on the UCF website will also be translated into Spanish by student team members, according to the release. Public access to all documents will be provided via the UCF-VLP website.
