November 11, 2004

Honoring the Greatest Generation

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Imagine spending a Sunday afternoon in a room filled with WWII veterans who have moved from the battlefields of war to the battlefields of life—walking, talking historical archives in the form of soldiers who once fought gallantly for world peace, but are now losing the fight to survive.

McCormick & Schmicks played host to veterans, spouses, community leaders, and teens on Sunday for a luncheon to honor members of the Stories of Service Project. Shown, from L-R, DCN Director of Programs Anita MackFarland, McCormick & Schmicks General Manager Richard Villarrell, Calpine’s Courtney Lavering, Vice Mayor Pat Dando, WWI veteran Peter Radonich, and DCN founder Warren Hegg. Photo by Kymberli W. Brady.

On Nov. 7, nearly 75 veterans, spouses, community leaders, and teens gathered together for a luncheon McCormick & Schmicks to honor members of the Stories of Service Project who represented the community at the National WWII Memorial dedication.

It also marked the announcement by Digital Clubhouse Network [DCN] founder Warren Hegg to expand the Stories of Service project throughout the State of California during the next 12 months, and will be part of a major international exhibition that will open at the UN next September in New York City.

Through the generous support of sponsors who have come aboard, including Calpine, Hegg said he’d push to take it nationwide.

“We’d love to see this be a national program,” he said. “This is a special group of people that helped set the tone and we want this to be a tradition that began in our town—with our veterans here.”

“Calpine is one of those corporate citizens that doesn’t just talk about getting involved in our community, they do,” added Vice Mayor Pat Dando, a longtime supporter of the project.

She also offered her gratitude to McCormick & Schmicks, who gave away 15,000 lunches to veterans last year, with plans to double the amount this year.

“Fifty two restaurants in 22 different states participated in this,” she said. “So often, we talk about how important our veterans are to this country. We all know that we will be safer in this country because of them.”

Dando also reflected on her experience in Washington, D.C. with the group of veterans, their wives, and their young, digital counterparts.

“In my elected life, having the privilege of joining you in Washington D.C. for the dedication is by and far the greatest honor I have ever had,” she said. “I know it will be the greatest privilege and honor, regardless of how long I live.”

What started with Hegg’s vision and the help of local Silicon Valley teens, the “Stories of Service” program has produced hundreds of digital documentaries, first-hand accounts of war told by those who lived it. To date, more than 300 of these stories have been placed in the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

Each is filled with gripping personal journeys through well-known battles such as D-Day, the invasion of Normandy, the battle of Ewo Jima, and many others—and put a human face on war that until recently, have silently slipped away, as nearly 2,000 men and woman each day take them to their graves.

“This Digital Clubhouse program is one of the best programs I’ve come across in my 20 years of public service,” added Dando. “It has brought the best of our country together with our young people of today. What an incredible combination—with the technology and our young people recording their stories so that they will never be lost and future generations will be able to hear the valor, courage, commitment, and dedication they gave to our country.”

Veterans Day events
After the Veterans Day Parade on Thursday, AMVETS Service Foundation of Calif. and the Digital Clubhouse Network presents their 5th annual “Stories of Service” program, which will pay tribute to local veterans by sharing the “digital stories” they produced with the help of local youth during the past 12 months. The program will begin at 3 p.m. at the Park Side Hall, located at 180 Park Avenue, behind the Tech Museum. The public is encouraged to attend and admission is free.

The short digital documentaries are stirring reminders of the personal sacrifice and courage of ordinary Americans who did extraordinary things for their country. To date, more than 300 of digital stories have been placed in the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian to educate and inspire future generations.

Next year, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, stories from the “Greatest Generation” will be shared by those who served in the Pacific and European theatres, as well as on the home front.

For more information on how to get teens involved in the effort to promote volunteerism and preserve veterans’ Stories of Service, call 559-355-7740 or visit www.stories-of-service.org. Additional information on the Digital Clubhouse Network, including two new facilities slated to open in downtown San Jose and the Computer History Museum can be found at www.digiclub.org.