Contact: Brian Herbert
(605) 359-7699

April 13, 2004

Mayor Munson to speak in support of Augustana history students and the Center for Western Studies at the Veteran's Day History Project reception

Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson will be attending a reception at the Center for Western Studies on the campus of Augustana College, Wednesday, April 14, 2004. The event will run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and the mayor will be speaking about the importance of remembering the area's wartime veterans. The reception is to formally announce the partnership between the Augustana Student History Association, the Center for Western Studies, and the Library of Congress to participate in the Veterans History Project.

America loses more than 1,000 veterans each day and most of them leave little behind about their experiences. The Augustana Student History Association and the Center for Western Studies are seeking to reverse the trend in South Dakota. These two groups are collaborating with the Library of Congress to be official partners in the Veteran's History Project.

The Veteran's History Project was originally created in 2000 when Congress unanimously voted to create the project. The purpose of the project is to conduct interviews with wartime veterans and civilians to preserve their stories for future generations. Augustana College students will conduct the interviews, and the Center for Western Studies will serve as the archive for the collection.

Along with the mayor, representatives of the participating organizations will attend to sign up veterans interested in giving their oral histories. Several World War II veterans that have already participated will also attend.

For additional information, please contact the project's coordinator, Brian Herbert at (605) 359-7699.