The Library of Congress wants your veteran’s story, and your phone can record it this Thanksgiving
More than 120,000 veterans have told their stories to the Library of Congress. Yours can be next, recorded on your phone at the Thanksgiving table and kept in the nation’s library forever. Here’s what they want, the iPhone settings to change first and the shipping mistake that gets packages turned away.
🤯 WOW! The Library of Congress holds more than 120,000 veterans’ stories, from World War I to today, in the same national library as the Gutenberg Bible. Congress set it up in 2000, and anyone 15 or older can add to the archive. No studio, no producer. Just you, your veteran, your phone and 30 minutes.
The Short Version: Record your veteran’s story on your phone this Thanksgiving and send it to the Library of Congress. Steps below.
📖 Read time: 2 minutes
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Grandpa tells the same three stories every Thanksgiving. The funny one about the jeep. The one about the cook. And the one he starts, then stops and changes the subject.
That third one? The Library of Congress wants it.
Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000. Today, it holds more than 120,000 veterans’ stories, from World War I to today. Anyone can add one, and your phone is all you need.
My dad was a Marine in the Korean War. He put up radio communication towers. He almost never talked about it. Only once did he tell me a story. He was at the top of a tower, installing equipment, while his buddy worked on the tower next to him. Gunfire erupted. His buddy was killed.
🎙️ Here’s what they want
- An unedited interview, at least 30 minutes long. Video or audio both count. Any veteran, any branch, any era. If your veteran has passed, their letters, photos or diaries qualify, too.
- An interviewer 15 or older. Perfect job for a grandkid.
- A few forms: a biographical data form, release forms for the veteran and for you, plus a recording log. All free PDFs at loc.gov/vets.
📱 Record it with your phone
- Use video. iPhones save MOV files, and most Androids save MP4. The library takes both.
- iPhone owners, change two settings first. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and pick Most Compatible. Then Settings > Camera > Record Video and pick 1080p at 30 fps. A half-hour of 4K can eat 10GB.
- Plug the phone in and prop it on books at eye level, an arm’s length away. Turn on airplane mode, and turn off the TV. Bring a shoebox of old photos. “Who’s this?” opens doors “Tell me about the war” never will.
- Ask for details instead of yes-or-no questions. Then let the silence sit. The good stuff comes after the pause. Let them skip anything. End with this: “What do you want your grandkids to know?”
- Copy the file to a USB flash drive. Ship it with the forms by FedEx or UPS, not the U.S. Postal Service. Keep a copy for the family.
My dad gave me one story. I’ve carried it my whole life, and I’d give anything for the rest.
If your veteran is still here, pull up a chair. Hit record. Listen. Then say thank you. It may be the best gift you ever give them, and the best one you ever get.
🎖️ One more thank-you: Consumer Reports rounded up more than 50 military discounts. Target takes 20% off, Samsung up to 30%. Many run all year, not just on Veterans Day. Share the full list with your veteran.
🗣️ Text/post this stat: The Library of Congress has saved more than 120,000 veterans’ stories, and it’ll take one you record on your phone at Thanksgiving. GetKim.com
📩 Send this to someone who has a veteran at their Thanksgiving table this year.
