By: Jeffrey Worthington & iHistory WW2 Contest
Highlights from visiting the Veterans Day Conference in Washington DC last weekend, which was organized by one of our sponsors, the American Veterans Center!
Remember that submissions are due by November 20th, 2013. To learn how to enter the contest and view the Official Rules, please visit: http://www.heroes-ww2.org
By: Heather Van Allen & Jeffrey Worthington
A great way to enhance your experience in learning about history—while making it fun, too—is to visit a museum. Several American WWII museums dot the States and offer various options for learning about the war in ways that go beyond what any text book can provide. Highlighted below are a few locations in different parts of the country for you to consider.
National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.
The National WWII Memorial website says: “The Second World War is the only 20th Century event commemorated on the National Mall’s central axis.” Operated by the National Park Service, the memorial “honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home.”
The memorial is beautifully designed with a waterfall cascading over the bold stars representing our fallen WWII servicemen and women. Each state is also represented with a tall pillar and a permanent decorative wreath. Almost daily you will often find WWII veterans or their family members being photographed in front of their state’s pillar.
The website also features the World War II Registry, which electronically lists the names of Americans who contributed to the war effort.
For more information about visiting the WWII Memorial, visit www.nps.gov/nwwm
The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA
The exhibits of the National WWII Museum allow visitors to “experience the war through the eyes of the men and women who lived it,” highlighting the world leaders as well as the everyday contributors.
Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs, Calif.
The Palm Springs Air Museum houses one of the largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft in the world. Currently, many of the volunteer docents available to give museum tours and answer visitors’ questions are WWII veterans.
National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, Texas
The mission of the National Museum of the Pacific War is, “preserve, teach, interpret, and honor. …To teach present and future generations the history of the Pacific War and to honor Admiral Nimitz and all who served in that war.”
Dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific Theater battles of World War II, the museum includes the George Bush Gallery, Admiral Nimitz Museum, Pacific Combat Zone, Plaza of Presidents, Memorial Courtyard, Japanese Garden of Peace, and the Nimitz Education and Research Center (opening soon).
While this is just a sampling, the Museum & Memorial Guide, at military.com, offers a list of WWII Museums and Memorials located in several states in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii.
Tips for Planning a Trip to a WWII Museum
Look in your local area. Consider visiting a museum or memorial near your home to make planning and traveling the easiest. It may just be a matter of a car ride and a day trip.
Contact the museum before you travel. Visit the website for the museum and call to verify that the attraction is open for business. Open dates and hours vary from museum to museum, and some operate on seasonal schedules and close during certain parts of the year.
Work a stop into a family trip. Is your family already planning an out-of-town vacation? Check in advance to see if there is a WWII museum or memorial near your destination. Ask your parents to consider taking your family to visit the attraction while you are on your trip.
Suggest a school field trip. Who knows? Your history teacher may still be deciding on field trip options. Send a hint his or her way that a visit to a WWII museum or memorial in your area might be a fun, as well as educational, experience for your class.
By: Jeffrey Worthington & iHistory WW2 Contest
Do you love military history and live in the Washington DC area? Come visit our iHistory WW2 Contest booth at the Veterans Day Conference by one of our sponsors, the American Veterans Center, at the US Navy Memorial.
Remember that contest submissions are due November 20th, 2013. To learn how to enter the contest and view the Official Rules, please visit: http://www.heroes-ww2.org
By: Jeffrey Worthington & iHistory WW2 Contest
Have you just heard about the iHistory WW2 Contest and wondering what it is all about?
Here is your challenge: Tell a story, and tell it well.
Veterans of World War II are relying on you. They lived through a remarkable period of America’s history, but the stories of what they experienced will soon be forgotten. It’s up to you, and students like you, to capture their stories on film. That’s what the iHistory WW2 contest is about.
Phase One of the contest began August 19, 2013 and runs until November 20, 2013 during which time students (ages 13-18) will film interviews of WWII veterans about their experiences during the war. Students will then mail their WWII interviews to the Library of Congress to be archived as part of the Veteran’s History Project. When you register, you will have access to instructions and guides that will help you find a veteran and conduct the interview, including a Sample Questionnaire.
The Worthington Foundation is proud to be working in cooperation with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project in helping preserve the legacy of American servicemen and women. The students’ full interviews of the veterans will be permanently archived in the American Folk Life Center of the Library of Congress.
Phase Two of the contest, students will compete for prizes by editing their copy of the full interview into a 3-5 minute mini-documentary (video essay). Students will then submit their mini-documentary video to the contest via our website from October 1 through November 20, 2013.
Through our iHistory WW2 website (www.Heroes-WW2.org) we are providing free resources such as music, archival WWII footage, and editing tools to assist the students in transforming their interviews into creative 3-5 minute documentaries to submit for the contest. The deadline for all submissions is November 20, 2013.
Criteria to be judged by online voting and a panel of qualified judges are:
Prizes, with an approximate total value of $11,000, will be awarded to the top five films that demonstrate excellence in editing and creative storytelling. The Grand Prize winner and his or her school will each receive a package which includes a Blackmagic Cinema Camera with a Rokinon 35mm T1.5 Cine Lens. Winners will be announced on or about February 2014. See Official Rules for details.
Register now to get started at: www.Heroes-WW2.org
By: Jeffrey Worthington & iHistory WW2 Contest
The Worthington Foundation is providing links to some great FREE resources for students to give their 3-5 minute mini video documentary a creative edge!
Browse our collection of free public domain WWII footage on our Vimeo channel!
BOTH THEATERS
The Final Battles of WWII Part 1 – https://vimeo.com/78570038
The Final Battles or WWII Part 2 – https://vimeo.com/76933415
EUROPEAN THEATER
Europe – Life in the Air Force – Part 1 (Bombers) – https://vimeo.com/78589787
Europe – Life in the Air Force – Part 2 (Air Combat) – https://vimeo.com/78593823
Europe – Invasion of Normandy – https://vimeo.com/78593824
Europe – US Advance into Germany [Graphic images] – https://vimeo.com/78570041 Europe – Uncut Urban Combat Footage – https://vimeo.com/78570039
Europe – Life in the Air Force – Part 3 (Sortie Missions) – https://vimeo.com/78593825
Europe – Hitler Speech – https://vimeo.com/78570043
Europe – German SS Troops – https://vimeo.com/78556905
Europe – Auschwitz Liberation Documentary – https://vimeo.com/78570044
Europe – Auschwitz Liberated Personal Articles – https://vimeo.com/78589785
PACIFIC THEATER
Pacific – Pearl Harbor the Beginning of WWII – https://vimeo.com/76933416
Pacific – New Guinea Campaign – https://vimeo.com/78650698
Pacific – Tarawa Battle – https://vimeo.com/78665925
Pacific – The Philippines – https://vimeo.com/78668084
Pacific – Battle – Activities on Okinawa – https://vimeo.com/72627071
Pacific – The Final Months – https://vimeo.com/78670847
OTHER
Pre-World War II – Headlines of 1938 – https://vimeo.com/72625258
Home-front – Labor Laws – https://vimeo.com/78675495
Have your local teachers heard about the iHistory WW2 Contest? If not, download/print our flyer handout, Click Here, and take it to your school, American Legion or VFW Post, newspaper, or radio station!
Submissions are due by November 20th, 2013. To learn how to enter the contest and view the Official Rules, please visit: http://www.heroes-ww2.org
By: Jeffrey Worthington & iHistory WW2 Contest
The iHistory WW2 Contest has been getting a lot of attention from the education and military community this Fall! Below are some of the highlights.
Have your local teachers and community heard about the iHistory WW2 Contest? If not, download/print our flyer handout, Click Here, and take it to your school, American Legion or VFW Post, newspaper, or radio station!
Submissions are due by November 20th, 2013. To learn how to enter the contest and view the Official Rules, please visit: http://www.heroes-ww2.org
By: Jeffrey Worthington & iHistory WW2 Contest
Sometimes film can seem a little overwhelming, but luckily there are companies that are dedicated to helping us make sense of it all. One of the most trust recourses for amateur filmmakers is Videomaker. They have been writing reviews on consumer video equipment and techniques for nearly 30 years.
Videomaker’s website has all the tips you need for documentary storytelling: starting with interviewing tips, proper placement and usage of microphones, image composition and good lighting techniques. All YOU need is a camcorder, tripod, mic and maybe a light along with the simplest of editing software to get started!
You don’t have to be a pro shooter, or a documentarian to tell these stories, anyone with just a camcorder and a basic knowledge of editing can learn to produce video and participate in the iHistory WW2 Contest!
Capturing WWII stories oral history is personal for Jennifer O’Rourke, managing editor of Videomaker. In her blog last Veterans Day she recounted, “My dad joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and went to sea at 17 years old. Years later he regaled us with stories during his time on a tiny gunboat smack in the middle of the action. Unfortunately, although he was great at storytelling, (an Irish bard, everyone called him!), he passed away before I thought of making history videos to save for future generations.”
“I was lucky to inherit a couple small journals that he kept [during WWII] while sitting there at night, lonely and so far from home, but they can never replace the voice.” For the rest of her blog, you can find it Here.
The iHistory WW2 Contest is proud to have Videomaker as one of this year’s sponsors! They are offering the first 100 eligible contest entrants: 1) A one-year magazine subscription to VideoMaker 2) One Instructional DVD download (from a select list provided by VideoMaker) 3) A 14-day VideoMaker Plus Membership trial! Be sure to check out the rest of our prizes!
Our addition resources include FREE music, archival WWII footage (more footage coming this weekend), and editing resources which are available to give your film a creative edge!
Submissions are due by November 20th, 2013. To learn how to enter the contest and view the Official Rules, please visit: http://www.heroes-ww2.org
By: Heather Van Allen & Jeffrey Worthington
It’s time for your interview with a WWII veteran, and you’re just about ready to film. Following a few tips may help you create a video that looks professional without appearing stiff or overly rehearsed.
Take a deep breath, relax. Rather than approaching your interview like a scripted list of questions you just have to get through, talk to the person like you would anyone else. Try not to focus so much on being recorded, that you get nervous and forget that you’re just having a dialogue with another human being.
Practice your interview introduction enough so that it feels natural. Get to know the veteran, finding out all the pertinent details, before your interview time. Introduce him or her like you would a good friend you highly admire. Consider beginning with something like, “This is _________. It’s October ____, 2013, and today I’m in Anytown, USA, talking to __________ …” and go from there.
When opening your interview, be sure to include all of the following information for the veteran: full name, birth date, war and branch of service and highest rank achieved. Also state the date and location (city, state) of the interview; your full name and relationship to the veteran (if applicable); the name of anyone present who is assisting with the interview; and that the interview is being conducted for the iHistory WW2 Contest and Veterans History Project for the Library of Congress.
Before asking your first question, thank your interviewee for agreeing to be there and talk to you (Example: “Thank you, ________, for taking time to talk to me today.”)
Ask open-ended questions. Encourage the subject to open up about their past.
Keep your comments to a minimum. Be willing to listen and let the veteran tell his or her story. For example, here is an interview filmed for the Library on Congress a few years ago.
Keep the interview going. Gently prod to keep the story going by asking, “Then what happened?”
Interview Requirements
Before conducting your interview, be sure you have completed the following steps:
Ensure that your recording media complies with the Library of Congress’ Acceptable Media and Formats.
Use an external microphone for conducting the video interview.
Properly fill out the release and biography forms with the WWII veteran. Submitting an incomplete form may lead to the disqualification of your entry.
Submissions due November 20th, 2013. To learn how to enter the contest and view the Official Rules, please visit: http://www.heroes-ww2.org
Visit the iHistory WW2 website for additional tips and resources for your mini-documentary. To stay up to date be sure to LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
By: Heather Van Allen & Jeffrey Worthington
Before you do your interview for your WW2 veteran project, it’s a good idea to decide on an angle so you can ask focused questions. Remember, with your mini-documentary, you have to tell the story within a limited amount of time–3 to 5 minutes. Determining your focus in advance will help you gather the most important points during your interview
Here are some strategies for finding your angle.
1) Talk with the veteran to get some background details before the video interview. Find out where and in what capacity he served. Ask the veteran to share highlights of his or her service during WWII.
2) In forming your angle, think about the story you want to tell and form your video interview around that idea. One of the judging criteria for the mini-documentaries is “Content & Story.” Your video should provide a cohesive and compelling story of personal sacrifice; have a unique and innovative approach to covering the specified topic guidelines; be accurate, informative and of superior quality; and demonstrates any of the following virtues: courage, loyalty, integrity, respect, overcoming prejudice, honor, self-sacrifice, perseverance, leadership, humility, forgiveness and service to the country. (See the iHistory WW2 Contest Official Rules)
3) Bounce some ideas off of family and friends. When brainstorming for an angle, you may find it helpful to let a few other people in on what you’re working on and ask them what they think of your ideas and/or if they have any thoughts to contribute. Share some of the pre-interview details you gathered, and find out what highlights your family and friends think would make the mini-documentary the most interesting. By getting the input of others, you might find yourself with a great angle you may not have come up with otherwise.
For more tips on putting together your WW2 project, visit the iHistory WW2 website: http://www.ihistoryprojectww2.org To stay up to date be sure to LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
By: Heather Van Allen & Jeffrey Worthington 
Doing some homework prior to your WWII interview will help the process go smoothly. Here are some pre-interview tasks to check of your list before you roll camera.
Find your angle. Before you begin the interview, determine what focus you want your mini-documentary to have. Tackle an intriguing subject that will be feasible to make into a 3- to 5-minute film.
Get to know your interviewee. Contact the veteran to collect some biographical information, using the Sample Questionnaire as a guide. Take notes over the phone or plan to meet at a public place, such as a nearby coffee shop. Help your veteran fill out the required Biographical Data Form at this time, if possible.
Gather some research. Learn all you can about the key battles and places associated with the veteran’s service. Also, ask the veteran to bring medals, letters, materials and photographs to the video interview.
Arrange your interview-day details. Select a location for your interview that will be comfortable for the veteran while being a quiet, properly-lit environment, suitable for filming. Set a date and time that works well for your interviewee, allowing plenty of time to capture at least 30 minutes of usable footage. Check your audio and video equipment, verifying that it is all in working order.
For more tips, and to download some important forms, for your WW2 project, visit the iHistory WW2 website: http://www.ihistoryprojectww2.org To stay up to date be sure to LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
iHistory Project 