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Tag: Serving Those Who Served

  • US seeking ‘citizen archivists’ to help transcribe American Revolution pension records

    US seeking ‘citizen archivists’ to help transcribe American Revolution pension records

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    A collaboration between two government agencies is creating exciting opportunities for history buffs interested in the American Revolution.

    The Revolutionary War Pension Project, a collaboration between the National Park Service and the National Archives and Records Administration, is looking for volunteers to help transcribe the military pension files from the Revolutionary War.

    The special project aims to ”make a permanent contribution to the historical record for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution,” according to the National Park Service’s website. The nation’s Semiquincentennial will take place in 2026.

    They are looking for volunteers to help transcribe the military pension files from the Revolutionary War. The files consist of applications an other records pertaining to claims for pensions and bounty land warrants.

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    According to the project, more than 80,000 of America’s first veterans and their widows have records that “may contain valuable details about Revolutionary War veterans and their families, such as rank, unit, period of service, age, residence, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death of spouse. Also within these records, you may find copies of marriage or other family records, information pertaining to military activities or details about soldier’s lives, along with letters, diaries, or family trees”

    You can learn more about the Citizen Archivist Program and how to get started by clicking here. You can even print out a Revolutionary War bingo card and fill it in as you transcribe the pension records.

    There is also a transcription tips and guide for those interested in the project.

    According to the NPS, Revolutionary War veterans were paid poorly for their service and some were forced to sell to land speculators the promissory land certificates they received at the end of the war, receiving pennies compared to what they were worth.

    In 1818, the first of four Revolutionary War veteran pension acts were passed, at first for veterans, and later their widows, to collect a pension from the federal government paid out every six months.

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    Jacob Langston

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  • Interviewer on mission to share World War II hero stories visits 100-year-old Central Florida veteran

    Interviewer on mission to share World War II hero stories visits 100-year-old Central Florida veteran

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A California man is traveling the world to interview all World War II veterans of allied countries and his most recent interview brought him to Central Florida.

    Rishi Sharma runs a non-profit, and YouTube channel called “Remember World War II with Rishi Sharma”. He started the project seven years ago and said he’s always been interested in World War II.

    “I’ve always read books about the war. You watch “Saving Private Ryan”, “Band of Brothers”, but I wanted to meet some of them in the flesh just to express my gratitude,” Sharma said. “I’d never been to a retirement home, and the director was so happy to see a young person there that he personally introduced me to all the veterans. There was like 25 of them at the time, and they were so happy to see someone show a genuine interest in their life. God bless my mom, she got me a camera from Costco. The director of the retirement home let me use an empty office space, and then for the next two months, I would ride my bike there after school and interview them.”

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    On Sunday, Sharma was scheduled to interview Albert Bruno, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Bruno was a soldier in the 134th Infantry Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division where he was a scout in the United States Army during World War II.

    News 6 also had the chance to sit down with Bruno — as he told us about serving on the front lines in Normandy, being taken prisoner by German troops and eventually escaping captivity after nine months.

    After escaping, Bruno stumbled upon British troops and was eventually reunited with an American soldier.

    “I woke up and there was an American soldier there,” Bruno said. “He came with them. I ran up, I grabbed him, I kissed him, and he said, ‘Come on let’s go!’”

    Bruno said he appreciates Sharma traveling to meet him and share his story along with the thousands of World War II veterans he has interviewed.

    “I thought it was fascinating,” Bruno said. “It was nice, it was so nice for him to come over, to do that story. I appreciate it so much. He did such a wonderful job. He did, he really did.”

    If you know a World War II veteran who would like to share their story with Sharma, you can reach him on his cell phone by calling 202-315-8743.

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    Emily McLeod

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  • ‘Hot Rods for Heroes:’ Central Florida nonprofit raises funds for veteran honor flights

    ‘Hot Rods for Heroes:’ Central Florida nonprofit raises funds for veteran honor flights

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    OVIEDO, Fla. – Honor Flight Central Florida held its biggest fundraiser, “Hot Rods for Heroes,” on Saturday.

    The nonprofit volunteer organization raises money to give our veterans the experience of a lifetime, an honor flight trip to visit our nation’s military memorials.

    Kaye Dunham, Honor Flight Central Florida co-chair, said she gets emotional thinking about the flights.

    “We lived in the D.C. area for awhile so we got to see it fairly often and it is such a moving event,” Dunham said. “Now to be inside of it and part of it, and see not just what it means on the outside, but what it means to those veterans.”

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    While there were plenty of hot rods to go around on Saturday, one truck stood out, but not for what was under the hood.

    Rick Wade was there with his truck that has received over 1,200 signatures from veterans.

    “It really started with Peter Foster there, he was the first to sign it,” Wade said. “He was a four-time cancer survivor and unfortunately he was passing away from his fourth time and he didn’t want his legacy to die.”

    While Wade isn’t a veteran, he feels passionately about giving back to the men and women who served our country and is involved in the REBOOT combat recovery program for veterans. He said every signature has a story.

    “I really didn’t know what I was doing, right?” Wade said. “I really just built a truck because I loved the truck and I leave it up to God after that.”

    Even though Saturday’s event had the goal to raise money for honor flights, it was also about recognizing our nation’s heroes, such as Korean War and Vietnam War veteran Bill Sharp. Sharp, a Marine Corps veteran, was able to go on a recent honor flight.

    “It’s really nice. To have the people, when you get to the airport, 50 to 75 bands and orchestras, choirs singing, 50, 75 dogs barking, you couldn’t hold back the tears,” Sharp said.

    Sharp received a Korean War Ambassador for Peace medal on Saturday.

    “I think it has been a great privilege to serve God and my country, especially the Marine Corps,” Sharp said.

    While the Hot Rods for Heroes event took place on Saturday, anyone can donate to Honor Flight Central Florida at any time. If you’re interested in donating or know a veteran who would like to go on an honor flight, click here.

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    Emily McLeod

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