One day after the Empire of Japan’s attack on Hawaii and Pearl Harbor, the United States President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, delivered this speech to a Joint Session of Congress.  The speech is best known for the line “December 7, 1941… a date which will live in infamy.” Unfortunately many students today do not know what happened at Pearl Harbor that day.

But there is something you can do to help educate today’s teens by getting them to learn out nations history from the people who were there… before it is too late. Roughly a 1,000 World War II veterans die everyday. The New York Times said that by 2020 there won’t be any left at all.

Please visit http://www.ihistoryprojectww2.org to see how you can help in your community!

If you have any questions or need more information please visitor our website iHistory Project: WW2 or contact me directly at jeff@ihistoryproject.org

I had the pleasure of attending Alamogordo’s annual Veterans Day parade this Saturday.  Here are just a couple snapshots from it!

The parade getting started.

The Color Guard

Local veteran bikers riding in the parade.

Service men and women from Holloman Air Force Base

Local Lion riders

By: Jeffrey Worthington & iHistory Project

“We celebrate this Veterans Day for a very few minutes, a few seconds of silence and then this country’s life goes on.  But I think it most appropriate that we recall on this occasion, and on every other moment when we are faced with great responsibilities, the contribution and the sacrifice which so many men and their families have made in order to permit this country to now occupy its present position of responsibility and freedom, and in order to permit us to gather here together.” -John F. Kennedy (November 11, 1961)

The iHistory Project and the Worthington Foundation wish to thank all of our military service men and women, as well as those who are supporting them as they maintain the frontiers of freedom!

4th of July fireworks celebrating our nation's freedoms!

Growing up as a young child I remember the 4th of July as a time that meant spending time at with grandparents, parades, music, people, watermelons, new adventures, and of course, fireworks!  The very first time I saw fireworks I think I cried from the loud bangs, but, as most young boys, I soon came to love the annual pyrotechnic shows.  I even studied them and learned the names of the different types of fireworks (yes, I was a nerd growing up).

This view of the 4th of July started changing, however, when I began interviewing World War II veterans for my documentary, For the Love of Freedom, when I was 20 years old.  Listening to them recount stories of how they stormed beaches in the South Pacific, flew bombing raids over Berlin, or held a dieing friend in their arms, I started appreciating the freedoms I have as an American.

A Japanese American who served in the US Army during WWII once told me, “I think too many people expect that freedom is their right. It’s not a right, it’s a privilege.”

This weekend Americans will be enjoying cookouts, family & friends, fun with the kids on Slip-’n-Slides, outdoor concerts, parades, and fireworks.  But let’s not forget what we are celebrating and remember to teach our children the history of those who 65+ years ago fought on foreign soil to protect our freedoms.  Please help the iHistory Project in our efforts to do this by sharing our website (iHistory Project: WW2) with your family, friends, and local teachers via Facebook and e-mail!

If you have any questions or need more information please visitor our website iHistory Project: WW2 or contact me directly at jeff@ihistoryproject.org

The iHistory Project is an exciting opportunity to bridge the widening generational gap between today’s youth and World War II veterans.  Help us spread the word about the project to teachers, parents,  Junior high and high school students!  Please share this blog and iHistoryProjectWW2 with your friends and family!  Remember to look us up on Facebook as well!

Honoring our nation's flag. Photo by Jeffrey Worthington 2011

Today, in 1775 America’s army was born.  Now we celebrate it as our countries Flag Day.  Our flag has seen many wars and many trails, great depressions and abundant times of prosperity.  It still stands for the freedom our forefathers came here to find.  We at the iHistory Project wish to honor all those who have and who are currently  serving to defend those freedoms.

Remember to come back to our blog for more updates!  For more information, visit the I-History Project-WW2 or contact me directly at jeff@ihistoryproject.org

Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Omaha Beach

Utah Beach

Looking out over the English Channel.

For some reason, due to Hollywood movies I suppose, I’d always envisioned Omaha, Utah, and Sword beach being relativity small.  I never thought that our soldiers had to, in some cases, run upwards of 200 yards across open sand.  Honestly, it was a miracle that we were able to take the beach at all.

(Click to see large photo)

For those men who did manage to make it across the beaches, they faced the challenge of breaching numerous layers of German defenses.  Even though Hitler had put most of his efforts into defending the coastline near Calais (about a 125 miles North East), the beaches of Normandy still formed a deadly obstacle for the American soldiers.

German defenses.

While under heavy enemy fire, the American soldiers had to push their way through the German defenses.

Unfortunately, many of our men paid with their lives.

Many paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Normandy cemetery is among the most beautiful and revered cemeteries in the world.

Honoring those who fell.

Reflecting on the cost of freedom.

The most moving thing for me during my visit to Normandy was learning of that the French have adopted fallen American solder’s headstones.  Almost immediately after the D-Day invasion of June 1944 – local families made sure that each soldier’s graves was  tented to.  That tradition has been handed down through the generations, and is continued to today.

These photos are candid pictures are of a French family paying their respects, and teaching the next generation to do the same.

French family.

They placed flowers and brought sand from Omaha beach for each boy to rub on the headstones they visited.

Showing appreciation is passed on to the next generation.

Posing briefly for a picture for the boys grandparents for a picture and moved on to honor another soldier.  I candidly observed this ritual repeated through out the afternoon.  Many other grateful French families were also there paying their respects to the men who paid the ultimate price for their freedom.

The young boys posing for a picture.

Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

If the French will never forget the price of freedom, I pray that we as Americans we never will either.  I believe the iHistory Project: WW2 should be in every American high school.  So please, help spread the word by sharing this website with your local teachers, home school groups, and church groups.  Thank you.
The iHP: WW2 is important in keeping the relevance of defeating Hitler and the Axis powers so that history will not be repeated.
And remember to thank a veteran… they’re often disguised as a Wal-Mart greeters, volunteers, and grandparents.  For more information, visit the iHistory Project-WW2 or contact me directly at jeff@ihistoryproject.org

D-Day Landing - June 6, 1941

Big announcement everyone!

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are delaying the submission dates until early Spring 2012.  We will be making more announcements and providing more details about the contest in August.  We will also be posting public domain B&W footage from World War II for you to use in your mini-documentary.

If you have already interviewed a WWII veteran, we ask for you patients during this additional waiting period.  Believe me, we have done everything possible to prevent a second delay.

This Monday, June 6^th, marks the anniversary of the landing of the Allied forces at Normandy, France.  I hope you can make the time to thank a WWII veteran!

Remember to come back to our blog for more updates!  For more information, visit the I-History Project-WW2 or contact me directly at jeff@ihistoryproject.org

Interviewing Claude Hobbs - D-Day veteran

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing an amazing gentleman and war hero, Claude Hobbs.  He was supposed to be in one of the first waves of men to land on the beaches of Normandy in the early morning of June 6, 1944, but his landing craft hit a mine while crossing the English channel, forcing the men to transfer to a different assault craft.  At 14:00 hours, he finally landed on Omaha beach.  Armed with a rifle and a handful of grenades, he and his men started clearing the beach of German snipers, allowing the Allies to begin bringing heavy equipment on shore to commence the liberation of Europe.

Hobbs, like many WWII veterans, is a humble man.  He was awarded numerous medals including a Bronze Star for action during the Battle of the Bulge.  He has also been nominated to receive our nation’s third highest honor, a Silver Star, yet he hasn’t gone to Washington DC to claim it.  Instead, his favorite thing is to volunteer at a local museum every Saturday and chat with other old timers.

Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer of Hobbs’ generation.  That is why I need your help to spread the word to your local high schools about the iHistory Project: WW2, so that this Fall hundreds and thousands of students around the country will begin interviewing WWII veteran on video.

To find out more about the iHistory Project’s YouTube competition and how you can help, please visit our website: www.Heroes-WW2.org or contact me directly at jeff@ihistoryproject.org

Note: High school students that graduated in the class of 2011 will still be able to participate and eligible to win.

I apologize for any inconvenience but I hope students will take advantage of the additional 90 days to make their videos.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey Worthington
Project Director