World War II Veteran’s Project

06Dec09

Tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day.  To me, that day has never meant more than red text on a calendar and a page in a history book.  But for my grandfather, and for his many fellow servicemen and women, that day is as significant as 9/11 is to today’s soldier in Iraq.  My grandpa was a medic during World War II and he is 88 years old.  As he gets older, I realize how special each year with him is and how many of his generation are passing away.  Along with them, are their stories.

My grandpa never talks about WWII.  I don’t ask him about it, because I don’t want to bring up painful memories about his friends getting killed or the red cross on his back that the enemy tried to use as a target.  I don’t ask and I don’t know.  I put together a memory book for him (and my grandma) a few years ago, and I went through his old pictures.  It amazed me to see photos of a young soldier and realize I didn’t know any of that story and if my grandpa was gone, all that history would be lost and all that would be left are photos that no one knows anything about.

So I decided back during the summer to do something to honor my grandfather.  Thanks in part to the inspirational ideas given to me by photographer, Don Giannatti, the helping hands of a bunch of family members, and Karen Charnell of the Snohomish Senior Center, I am officially starting the Snohomish County World War II Veteran’s Project next week.  Below is the press release.  I am really excited about this project, and hope a lot of veterans respond to make this something truly special.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY WWII VETERANS PROJECT

The Snohomish Senior Center invites all Snohomish County WWII Veterans to participate in the “Snohomish County WWII Veterans Project”.  On Monday and Tuesday, December 14 and 15, Janell Wood, a photographer from WoodMoore Photography will be taking photographs of WWII veterans now, briefly interview each veteran about their experiences, and will scan old military photos they bring in and wish to share.  The images and stories will then be compiled into a slideshow and/or book which will be donated to the Snohomish Senior Center.  A viewing of the book and/or slideshow at the Senior Center is anticipated sometime in the spring of 2010.  Any WWII veteran who lived in the Snohomish area during WWII or who currently lives here is eligible for this project.  Please call the Senior Center, 360-568-0934 for an appointment.  If veterans are unavailable on those dates or unable to travel and would like to participate in this project, let the Senior Center know and private arrangements can be made.  There is no cost to participate in this project.  Participants may have a free 8×10 of their picture mailed to them after their photo session.

Janell is doing this project to honor her grandfather, Bill Moore, who served as a medic during WWII, and his fellow servicemen.   This is a project of Janell Wood, WoodMoore Photography, and the Moore Family of Snohomish Washington.

Snohomish Seniors is a Washington non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote and enhance the physical, emotional, intellectual and economic well being of older adults through a variety of activities, services, opportunities for learning, participation and socializing both at their Center and elsewhere.  The Center is located at 506 Fourth Street in Snohomish.

Snohomish Seniors receives funding from the Snohomish County Department of Human Services and comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, The Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

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