Harmony Grove School District

National History Day launches program to help research and preserve the stories of 100 Korean War–era Veterans

COLLEGE PARK, MD – September 9, 2024 – National History Day® (NHD) is proud to announce the start of its Silent Heroes: Untold Stories from the Korean War program, sponsored by a grant from the Veterans Legacy Program, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Over the next nine months, students and teachers will research the lives of two individuals who served in the U.S. military during the Korean War, came home, continued to serve their community, and are currently buried or memorialized in a U.S. National or State Veterans Cemetery. This program prioritizes identifying the stories of underrepresented service members and community leaders. Underrepresented Veterans include Veterans from historically underrepresented groups (race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation) and Veterans who have significant connections to their local communities.

53 teachers from across the United States were selected from an application process that brought in over 100 applicants. The selected teachers represent 36 states and territories, 46 different U.S. National and State Cemeteries, and both rural and urban areas. Excitingly, Brandon Bagwell, from Harmony Grove Middle School was selected to participate in this program.

“Researching Silent Heroes is one of the most impactful experiences students and educators can have as they study history,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “Learning more about a Veteran whose service to the community was paramount inspires and motivates these young researchers and their teachers to better understand sacrifice, service, and democracy.”

Throughout the 2024/2025 academic year, each teacher will work collaboratively with a group of students to identify two Veterans and research their lives, military service, and contributions to their communities. In spring 2025, students and teachers will visit their local cemetery to honor their Veterans and read eulogies at their graves. Participants will create profiles for these individuals that will be cross-listed on the National History Day® Silent Heroes website and the Department of Veterans Affairs  Veterans Legacy Memorial. 50 profiles will be selected to have a video eulogy added to the profile. See a sample NHD-produced video eulogy here.