Coordinators of the 2001 Open House and the first annual Veterans Day Breakfast, Sarah Miner and Abby Daley have written and spoken about the merits of the project at every opportunity.
At the Open House, each student
reads a vignette based on the interviews and then gives a copy to the
veteran, hopefully as a reminder of the new relationship they have formed
through this shared experience.
Students and veterans and their
families gather for a dessert and coffee reception afterwards, exchanging
words of appreciation.
Many students report that the
Veterans' Voices Project was one of the most meaningful things they have
ever done.
Some students work with family
members or neighbors they had never before spoken with about their experiences
in the service.
The project bridges the proverbial
generation gap; students are moved by the experience and feel honored
to have been trusted with the telling of a personal story.