VA video program preserves U.S. history by recording Veterans’ memories and stories
Every Veteran has a unique story. Each day, Veterans from all military experiences pass away, leaving their rich history untold. The simple act of asking to hear a Veteran's story can make it possible to carry their stories on for future generations.
Preserving living history
Anit Tyagi, a research assistant at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, felt compelled by his passion for military history to preserve Veterans’ stories.
He had no video experience, yet this 23-year-old started recording stories through interviews in 2022 with his project—Remembering Our Veterans. VA’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement supports this video memoir program, which uses VA volunteers to interview Veterans.
“It’s an amazing way to get firsthand accounts from Veterans and preserve American history,” said Tyagi. “Veterans’ histories, not only for Veterans and their loved ones but also for academic, historical, public engagement and VA memorialization purposes. Remembering Our Veterans was started to fill this gap.”
Years in the making
Tyagi started volunteering at VA in 2015, during his sophomore year in high school. Outside of his work hours, he continues to volunteer, now in palliative and hospice care, where he appreciates spending hours talking with Veterans.
“I sat with a World War II Veteran for several hours in palliative care,” he said. “I realized he may not have children or any living family. If he passed away, his stories would die with him. That was the catalyst for me to catalog these memoirs. We have to record them before they are gone.”
Tyagi said many older Americans are considered kinless: without partners, spouses, children or siblings. By creating the video memoirs program, he developed a way to document and remember these individuals.
Simplifying the process
The videos are recorded using two iPhones, four tripods, wireless microphones, lighting and battery packs. This equipment fits in a medium-sized tote bag, making the kit mobile, which allows the video team to easily go to patient rooms and VA nursing homes to conduct interviews.
Veterans can review raw footage of their interview and they have full control over the content of their video.
Remembering Our Veterans has teams at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center and the PFC James Dunn VA Clinic in Pueblo, and Tyagi hopes to expand the program nationwide.
Value beyond a video
Family members often keep voicemails from a deceased loved one, so they won’t forget the sound of that person’s voice.
“By making these videos, we’re capturing a ‘living snapshot’ of each Veteran, preserving their voice, mannerisms and personality,” Tyagi said. “We’re also able to connect people who’ll be born decades later with their ancestors.”
U.S. Army Veteran and VA volunteer David Pyle is a frequent interviewer.
“I’ve met several extraordinary individuals,” said Pyle. “Veterans talk about a variety of experiences and the profound effect the military has had on their lives. I think the project has significant value regarding creating a legacy.”
U.S. Navy Veteran Jeff Richcreek, age 68, completed his memoir video in March 2024.
“Everybody has a story to tell, and Veteran stories are different from others because of all we’ve had to go through,” said Richcreek. “During the interview, I felt very relaxed. It was good to talk about things I haven’t talked about in a while.”
Legacies recorded
The program is open to any Veteran, regardless of age. Two Veterans have passed away since taping their memoirs, emphasizing the importance of capturing these stories.
“This can be a great program for Veterans in hospice,” Tyagi said. “The Veteran who passed three weeks after his interview was in hospice when we recorded him.”
Progress in one year
Sixty-one videos have been completed in the first year of Remembering Our Veterans.
“We're constantly improving our process to make it more user-friendly and to produce higher-quality interviews,” said Tyagi.
Remembering Our Veteran videos appear on VA’s YouTube channel, and Tyagi submits final interviews to the Library of Congress to be digitized and archived for online viewing.
For more information, to share your memoir or to learn about starting this program at your VA facility, call 720-723-3864 or email rov.echcs@va.gov.
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April Love is a writer-editor on the VISN 19 Creative Task Force. She began working for VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in 2016 and lives in Aurora, Colorado.