Veterans Programs

Maryland Humanities is proud to present a series of programs that explore the military experience and what it means to serve.

As home to eleven military installations, a distinguished military academy, and an estimated 400,000 veterans, the state of Maryland shares a long and important history with America’s armed forces. Veterans and active duty military personnel are our neighbors, co-workers, and our family members. Maryland Humanities, in partnership with veterans’ service organizations across the state, has developed a series of programs for veterans and active duty military, their families, and the public at large that use the humanities to explore the history, experience, and meaning of war and military service.

Veterans’ Programs

 

Veterans Oral History Project

Since 2015, students at Southern High School in Anne Arundel County have conducted oral history interviews with Vietnam War veterans and Vietnamese immigrants who experienced the war. These students first receive training in oral history techniques in classroom sessions with oral historian Dr. Barry Lanman of the Martha Ross Center at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Transcripts and video of the interviews are housed at the Maryland State Archives and can be accessed online here. The project is showcased at annual community events.

Learn More About the Veterans Oral History Project

Veterans Book Groups

Maryland Humanities works with local veterans to plan and facilitate small-group reading and discussion programs at the Baltimore County, Towson Library, the Harford County, Bel Air Library, Howard County, Central Branch, Prince George’s County, Montpelier Arts Center, or the St. Mary’s County, Lexington Park library. Created by the Maine Humanities Council, Veterans Book Groups aim to bring veterans of all eras and active military together to talk about military experiences and returning to civilian life while providing an informal yet supportive environment for discussion.

Learn More About Veterans Book Groups

Veterans programs at Maryland Humanities are sponsored in part by Lockheed Martin and The Wawa Foundation, with support of Veterans Book Group statewide by David Bruce Smith and in Baltimore County by The Citizens of Baltimore County via the Baltimore County Commission on the Arts & Sciences.

image depicting Lockheed Martin logo
Logo of The Wawa Foundation
Baltimore County Commission on the Arts & Sciences logo

  • It’s different from other projects because I actually got to interact with someone and get information from something other than a history book.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, student participant

  • “[In Veterans Book Group,] I made connections with other vets.”

    Veterans Book Group participant

  • “Talking with students also helps those of us who have said little about our combat experiences because, in a sense, we feel guilty about why others died and not us/me? So, to be able to talk about it helps the veterans. The opportunity you provided to both students and veterans is wonderful and I do hope that our messages are meaningful to students.”

    ​Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, veteran participant

  • “[In Veterans Book Group,] I considered other perspectives both of other service members and others who did not serve.”

    Veterans Book Group participant

  • “It was an interesting thing to do. The process of digging through photos, souvenirs, copies of old orders, and other memorabilia was meaningful after 43 years. I WAS impressed with all of the students I met.”

    ​Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, veteran participant

  • We were really moved by the testimony of the veterans and impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the students.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, parent

  • “I met some great people, read books I might never have otherwise, [and] had great discussion.”

    Veterans Book Group participant

  • Thank you once again for the opportunity for me to share with your students a little about my Vietnam experiences. What you are doing is very special and I hope you will be able to continue this fine effort.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, veteran participant

  • I thought it was a very good learning experience. We actually got to talk to someone who took place in the Vietnam War.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, student participant

  • I felt that I had a very unique oral history experience. It was very emotional and I feel that I learned valuable information. I got to learn stories and practice skills that normally I wouldn’t have been comfortable with.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, student participant

  • “It was an amazing experience to meet and talk to a veteran.”

    ​Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, student participant

  • We were enabled to go into the community and get information from real people. Also, the assignment was pretty subjective so we were able to take it in any way we liked. We led the projects and each one is so different from the next.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, student participant

  • “Again it was a wonderful experience with your students and a great project for them. To see and talk to real Vietnam vets is important to get real stories. You have a lot of work to do but it is a really worthwhile experience for the students “as well” as us Vietnam vets.”

    ​Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, veteran participant

  • “This was the first time I felt comfortable admitting that I was a female Viet Nam vet!”

    Veterans Book Group participant

  • We were really moved by the testimony of the veterans and impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the students.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, parent
Share your feedback