Students learn firsthand about veterans’ history

WEBUTUCK — There are few better ways to study history than from those who have experienced it. That’s exactly why Eugene Brooks Intermediate School and Webutuck High School English Language Arts teacher Henry Pollinger said he was so excited to involve his students in the National Veterans History Project.It all started when Pollinger, himself a Webutuck graduate, was browsing the Library of Congress website, www.loc.gov, and discovered there was a project connecting students to veterans. The students have to research the veterans’ wartime experience, the war itself, videotape their interviews with the veterans and then follow up by transcribing those interviews in detail. The interviews and transcripts will then be catalogued and archived in the Library of Congress, quite a coup for the group of eight students who signed up for Pollinger’s elective Journalism and Literature of War classes this year.“They’re taking what they see on the page and really seeing it come to life and talking to somebody with experience, rather than just reading it in the text books,” Pollinger said. “It’s so exciting for them to have tangible knowledge of what’s going on.”That’s one of the keys to teaching many children, according to some teachers, including Pollinger — practical experience, versus teaching what’s purely academic.“Usually a lot of kids, though not the majority, but a lot struggle with understanding the information that’s in textbooks. By asking people about their experiences they can get a better understanding of what things are about,” he said. “They’ll get to see a side of history they wouldn’t see in history books, about the actual battles and the affect on [humanity] and the human toll. It will be a firsthand account.”“In my experience, the older generation [of veterans] just love sharing stories with someone showing interest,” said American Legion Post Historian Sean Klay. “For our generation and the younger generation to show some interest and actually learn about [veterans’ histories] is always a great thing. Unfortunately, I kind of feel we don’t have enough of that.”Pollinger said he knew immediately after finding out about the project that it would be a great learning experience for his students. He contacted the Millerton American Legion Post 178 to see if it would be willing to participate, and connect him with veterans who would like to share their histories with his students.“When I looked at it, I thought what a wonderful opportunity for one to have, for the students to talk to those older than they are, especially because people always think kids are so disrespectful,” he said. “And then there are so many life skills the students will learn through this project.”Klay agreed, adding the chance for students to interview “primary sources,” about past battles dating back to World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam all the way up to Afghanistan, is something not to be missed.“It’s always the way to go,” he said, adding he’s reaching out to veterans beyond Millerton and North East, from Amenia, Pine Plains, even into Connecticut, to participate in the project.Pollinger said that among the students participating, not many have had much experience with veterans, and the fact that the project will provide them the opportunity to connect with war veterans is truly something special. For starters, he said, it’s always good to have the different generations interact. And then, he said, dealing with those who have lived through such important history is of value. He said it’s vital to preserve this nation’s war history from living veterans, as numerous generations of veterans from wars past are reaching the end of their lives.From the start of the project, Pollinger has had the support of the school district; he said he expects that support will last into the future, as he hopes to continue the National Veterans History Project for years to come. He said the interviews can be ongoing and that it will “always remain interesting” to speak with the veterans about their experiences. It will also remain interesting for the students to participate in the project, as they move through their academic careers and sign up for Pollinger’s classes.Veterans interested in participating in the project should contact Sean Klay at the American Legion Post 178 by emailing history@legionpost178.org; students interested in participating who are not in Pollinger’s classes currently can contact him through the main office to learn how to get involved.

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