Thank you for your continued support of the Veterans Museum and our mission to preserve, honor, and share the stories of America’s Veterans. Every visit, donation, membership, volunteer hour, and referral ensures these remarkable stories are never forgotten.
Over the last two years, we have had the privilege of interviewing more than 200 Veterans, capturing their experiences and preserving their personal histories for future generations. What we have discovered is that the interview process is often just as meaningful for the Veterans as it is for those who hear their stories. Many participants tell us how much they appreciate the opportunity to reflect on their service and leave a lasting legacy for their families and communities.
As proud as we are of reaching 200 interviews, we have our sights set much higher. Our long-term goal is to document the stories of 10,000 Veterans, creating one of the most significant collections of Veteran oral histories in the nation. Achieving that vision will require the support of people like you.
I invite you to become a Veterans Museum member for just $25 per year. Your membership directly supports our efforts to preserve these stories and expand our educational programs.
If you’re already a member, please consider donating to help us continue this important work.
You can also make a tremendous impact by recommending Veterans you know for our interview program. Every Veteran has a story worth preserving, whether they served during wartime or peacetime, at home or overseas. If you know a Veteran whose story should be recorded for future generations, please encourage them to connect with us.
Finally, we are seeking volunteers to help us reach our goal of 10,000 interviews. Whether you’re interested in interviewing Veterans, assisting with recordings, organizing historical materials, or supporting museum operations, your time and talents can make a real difference.
Together, we can ensure that the voices, experiences, and sacrifices of our Veterans are preserved and shared for generations to come.
Thank you for standing with us and helping preserve the stories that define our nation’s history.
With gratitude,
Scott Mythen
Chief Executive Officer
Veterans Museum
The article features our CEO, Scott Mythen, speaking on how our mission honors Veterans and their families while helping the public better understand why people serve – and what they learn through service. Scott warns that because only a small percentage of Americans serve in the military, the gap between Veterans and the public could grow unless these stories are preserved.
The author, Dana Congelosi, highlights that more than 200 Veteran interviews have been recorded over the last two years – and are available to view on our website and on interactive kiosks in public locations across Florida. The museum also donates every interview to the Veterans History Project for long-term preservation.
Your story matters. Whether you served at home or abroad, during times of peace or conflict, your experience is a vital part of America’s history. When you share your story, you preserve your legacy – not just for your family and community, but for future generations who need to understand the real meaning of service.
We are honored to host the next meeting of the Duval Veterans Council at the Jessie Ball duPont building (“The Jessie”) on August 18th.
On August 27th, we will meet with the St. Johns County Veterans Council in partnership with the St. Johns County Libraries with a goal of securing media production equipment and space, and training local Veteran organizations on conducting interviews for our platform. We also plan to meet with Martin County Veterans Services in Port St. Lucie to establish a similar sustainable effort.
Know anyone who may be interested in assisting us with securing media production equipment and conducting interviews? Please send them our new promotional video as a preview of the Veterans Museum’s mission.
We were honored to receive generous donations from the Rotary Club of Riverside Jacksonville and the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville.
Thank you for supporting our mission!
“The Voices of Service” is a recent article written by local journalist Seth Williams for The Resident, a local newspaper in Jacksonville, FL. The article highlights the Veterans Museum mission and how stories emerge that may have been tucked away for decades – if not eternity. That realization made the USS Orleck the ideal setting for one of our first storytelling kiosks, where Veterans began recording their personal experiences in their own words. Per the author, “Visitors could now do more than explore a historic warship. They could hear directly from those who served aboard vessels like it, transforming exhibits into lived experiences. Artifacts explain where history happened. Only people can explain what it felt like to live it.” – Seth Williams
Display our interactive flat-screen kiosk in your museum, school district, city library, state building, or public space! Please contact us to discuss cost, delivery, and the seamless remote updates associated with our kiosk at info@vetsmuseum.org. Let’s bring these stories to more communities. Learn more here about our kiosks.
