Freedom
July 4, 2026 ⋆ 12:00am ET
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we’re not just observing a date on the calendar — we’re honoring the story of America itself. A story Veterans have been at the heart of since the very beginning.
VA is proud to support the whole of government initiative to celebrate Freedom 250 — helping the country reflect, remember, and recommit to the values we’ve defended for two and a half centuries.
Veteran History Project
The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military Veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand what they saw, did, and felt during their service.
How to participate
Veterans from all branches and ranks who served at any point since World War I are eligible to participate in the Veterans History Project, even if they did not see combat. Anyone, including students ages 15 or older, may volunteer to record an oral history interview or gather and donate a Veteran’s original photographs, correspondence or other materials.
How to Prepare
Participating in the Veterans History Project is easy to do. The video and field kit lay out the five steps that will ensure your VHP interview is accepted and provides a useful primary source for researchers.
The entire VHP Field Kit is available as a fillable PDF document, as well as in audio and braille formats. The step-by-step process is presented on the Veterans History Project website, but is also contained in the Field Kit. Follow each step to ensure your submission meets all requirements.
Download the Field Kit
From the Library of Congress
- Fillable VHP Field Kit (PDF, 4.93 MB)
- Electronic Braille Field Kit (BRF, 18 KB)
- Audio Field Kit (MP3, 43 MB)
Outreach Resources
The Story of America
The White House Task Force 250 has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It will highlight the stories of the crucial characters and events that resulted in a small rag-tag army defeating the mightiest empire in the world and establishing the greatest republic ever to exist. This is the story of America. This is our shared heritage and our proud destiny that will continue to lead us to unimaginable achievements in the centuries to come.
Check out the video series