Air Force veteran Gene Wikli is reflecting on more than 20 years of military service as he helps Imprints of Honor preserve the personal stories of veterans for future generations.
The Arizona-based non-profit connects students with former service members, giving young people the opportunity to record their experiences and learn about military history directly from those who lived it.
Wikli’s story was featured as part of coverage marking the 79th anniversary of the United States Air Force. His involvement with Imprints of Honor has placed him among veterans sharing their memories with students through interviews and educational projects.
The organisation works with pupils from seventh grade through college. Students interview veterans, document their service and write accounts of their experiences, developing skills in history, citizenship, communication and leadership along the way.
Students preserve veterans’ stories
The interviews are collected for Since You Asked, an annual hardback publication featuring veterans’ memories. Participants are given the opportunity to review and approve their stories before they are published.
Imprints of Honor also submits recorded interviews to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress, helping to preserve first-hand accounts of military service as part of the national historical record.
The programme was established after founder Barbara Hatch, then a history teacher, invited veterans to speak with her students. It has since grown into a wider initiative designed to bring younger generations into direct contact with former members of the armed forces.
For Wikli, the project offers a way to continue serving beyond his military career while ensuring that the experiences of veterans are not lost. The organisation’s annual community receptions and book signings allow students to present their work and veterans to see their stories recognised in print.
