Military.com Launches Landmark Living History Project

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Military.com (www.military.com), the
 online home for the 80 million Americans with close ties to the military,
 today launched the Military.com Living History Project, a groundbreaking
 initiative that leverages the Internet to collect and immortalize the stories
 of the millions of Americans who have served their country.
     The Military.com Living History initiative is pursued in partnership with
 the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans,
 the world's largest source of oral histories by D-Day and Battle of the Bulge
 veterans. This collection formed the basis for Stephen Ambrose's best-selling
 books D-Day and Citizen Soldiers.
     "This partnership will help us immortalize the stories of our citizen
 soldiers by bringing their first-person accounts of military history to the
 World Wide Web," said Ambrose, noted military historian, founding director of
 the Eisenhower Center and an advisor to Military.com.
     In partnership with the Eisenhower Center, Military.com will present
 thousands of oral histories from the men and women of America's armed forces.
 Moreover, the Living History Project will inspire veterans around the country
 to tell their stories and contribute to this lasting legacy. Collecting
 stories and images via the Internet enables widespread participation and easy
 browsing of these engaging first-hand accounts.
     "The Military.com Living History program salutes the spirit and sacrifice
 of our veterans, and provides future generations important personal
 perspectives on historical events," said Christopher Michel, CEO of
 Military.com. "The Internet is an ideal medium for discovering and sharing the
 stories of the many heroes in America's military community."
     Currently, the Living History Program commemorates World War II with
 special emphasis on D-Day. Later in June, the program will highlight Korean
 War veterans on the 50th anniversary of that conflict.
 
     Military.com's Living History Project includes:
 
     * Oral Histories:  Detailed recollections of veterans' wartime
       experiences.
     * Veterans' Stories:  Letters, photos and journal entries from members of
       the U.S. Armed Forces from the American Revolution to the present.
     * Retrospectives:  Accounts of our nation's wars with veterans' words and
       pictures supported by maps, biographies, articles and feedback from the
       Military.com community.
 
 
     About Military.com
     Military.com (www.military.com) is the online home for the 80 million
 Americans with close ties to the military community: active duty, reserve,
 guard members, retirees, veterans, defense workers, family members and
 enthusiasts.  Military.com is the destination site connecting this community
 and offering members meaningful content, resources and services. As custodians
 of America's military heritage, Military.com collects the stories of the men
 and women who have served. Military.com gives voice to those who made history
 and gives context to those who want to learn more.
     The company, founded by an executive team that includes veterans of the
 U.S. Armed Forces and high-tech professionals, is committed to using the
 Internet as a better way to keep this community connected.  Military.com has
 offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and is funded by the Mayfield
 Fund, U.S. Venture Partners, Broadview International and PRIMEDIA Ventures.
 
     About the Eisenhower Center
     The Eisenhower Center for American Studies is a nonprofit research
 institute dedicated to the study and preservation of American history and
 leadership from a variety of perspectives, including foreign policy, social
 history, literature and popular culture.
     The Eisenhower Center is located next door to the National D-Day Museum,
 which will open on June 6, 2000. The D-Day museum grew from Eisenhower Center
 Founding Director Stephen Ambrose's book D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic
 Battle of World War II and Dr. Ambrose's collection of oral histories of D-Day
 and Battle of the Bulge veterans. The Museum will feature artifacts from Utah
 and Omaha Beach, including the Higgins Landing Craft. The Eisenhower Center
 will serve as the research center for the D-Day Museum and other projects,
 including The Majic Bus, the Stephen E. Ambrose Distinguished Speakers Series,
 and scholarly conferences.
 
 

SOURCE  Military.com