A cowboy poetry gathering is known for music, poetry, humor, tall tales, and maybe even some true stories. The Gathering wants to hear even more true stories this year, as veterans trained by the Veterans History Project (VHP) of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center will be onsite to collect and preserve the stories of the many military veterans among us.
One example of a veteran's story in poetic form
Established by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress serves as a national repository for the firsthand accounts of U.S. military veterans. Originally focused on oral history interviews, the project has expanded to include letters, diaries, photographs, artwork, and stories from Gold Star families. Today, with over 121,000 collections archived, VHP has become an invaluable resource for researchers, historians, and creatives, contributing to books, documentaries, films, and audio programs.
As Gathering board member Karen McGuire put it, "The voice of the veteran is the only way we can get the true history of life in the military, the battles, and what happened at home while they were away. These are the men and women who were there, and that's why we need their stories. They're a gold mine."
Karen Lloyd during her career
as a US Army aviator
If you are a veteran, no matter when or where you served, your story is important. Sharing it ensures that your experiences are preserved for family, fellow service members, and future generations. Many veterans have found that an informal setting—like a cowboy poetry gathering—makes it easier to start telling their stories. Col. Karen Lloyd (ret.), former director of the Veterans History Project and a Gathering board member, will be on-site to guide veterans through the process alongside experienced facilitators who have helped others tell their stories through poetry, prose, and recorded interviews.
Renowned poet and Gathering board member Vess Quinlan emphasized the importance of storytelling, saying, "It is cathartic talking and writing about a life-changing experience." He added that this opportunity "is not a writing workshop, but it can be thought of as an enabling project to encourage telling the stories now or in the future."
Bill Jones, Col. Lloyd, and Vess Quinlan with a veteran after his interview
Col. Lloyd has conducted interviews at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, for several years. David Richmond, now a board member for the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering, described her impact: "Between Karen's engaging personality and the fact she was a female veteran, she was able to break the ice. Her first time there, she demonstrated how easy it was to do an interview. We start with a pre-interview to understand anything the veteran may not want to discuss. One facilitator keeps track of time and takes notes while the other conducts the interview in front of other veterans. Karen brought two smartphones and two lapel mics to record the interviews. Our first participant was a young Marine just back from Afghanistan, and it blew everyone's mind. The dam just broke. Many Vietnam veterans and others who served in Iraq and the Gulf War stepped forward to share their stories."
Veterans interested in participating can visit the Morelock Building on the SRSU campus on Friday and Saturday of the Gathering each year, usually from 9:30-11:30 AM and 1:30-3:30 PM. These rooms are on the bottom floor of the building, accessible by elevator from the Marshall Auditorium level or the entrance beneath the concrete front steps. Each veteran will receive a copy of their interview on a thumb drive. They retain full copyright control over their stories, ensuring they have a say in how their narratives are used.
To learn more about the Veterans History Project, visit loc.gov/vets.
