Slater veterans thank Kinder, Aull for support of video stories project

Several members of Slater American Legion and VFW met in Jefferson City Wednesday, Jan. 14, with Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to thank him for his support of Missouri Veteran Stories, a project that is intended to honor Missouri's military veterans by capturing their stories on DVD, preserving them for future generations, according to Charlie Guthrie of Slater.

"As more of our veterans pass away each day, their stories go with them, so that is why we need to keep this program going," Guthrie said. "Missouri Veteran Stories is open to all men and women currently residing in Missouri, who have served in any branch of the United States Military."

The videos are five to seven minutes long and are produced from interviews and conversations with each veteran, Guthrie said.

The archive of video stories is available through the project's Web site and through touch screen consoles in the State Capitol and elsewhere, according to Guthrie.

"We saw this console when we were at the Capitol, and it is huge, quite something to see," Guthrie said.

Guthrie noted that 17 veterans from Saline County have already contributed to the collection.

The most recent interview sessions took place in Slater in December.

"I hope that we can get many more veterans to share their stories," Guthrie said. "This is really a fine program. It lets veterans share their stories and illustrates their service and sacrifice they have made."

Saline County veterans who have contributed so far include

--Charles Berlekamp, Air Force, Korea

--Tom Boehner, Army, Vietnam

--Travis Bullington, Army, World War II

--Robert Drummond, Army Air Corps, World War II

--Wally N. George, Navy, Vietnam

--John Patrick George, Navy, Service: 1970 to 1990

--C.W. Caldwell Giger, Air Force, World War II

--Wellington Joseph Gorham Sr., Air Force, Vietnam

--Wellington Joseph Gorham Jr., Navy, Iraq I

--Charles Guthrie, Navy, Vietnam

--Orville Hinck, Army, Korea

--Harold Jackson, Army, World War II

--William S. Lewellen Jr., Army, Vietnam

--Harry Lightfoot, Army, Vietnam

--John T. Markovich, Navy, Vietnam

--Kenneth M. Rogers, Marines, Vietnam

--Paul Vaillancourt, Army, Vietnam

--Keith A. Wright, Marines, Service: 1975 to 1979.

Contact Eric Crump at

marshalleditor@socket.net

On the Net:

http://www.missouriveteranstories.com