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06-05-2004, 02:09 AM
Seminars encourage soldiers to write their memoirs
Updated: 6/4/2004 7:23 PM
By: Julie Vanderslice, News 10 Now Web Staff
When a soldier returns home from war, their first order of business is to catch up on things at home, but swirling around inside their heads are images, thoughts, and vivid memories of the things they've just experienced.
Operation Homecoming aims at helping those men and women put it all down on paper.
Under a project by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), two authors are giving writing seminars at Fort Drum.
SPC Sheila Raphael is participating in the seminars.
"I'm interested in learning how to document my experiences both in the Army over all but particularly in Afghanistan. Being a native New Yorker, I think 9/11 hit home for me and to be able to take part in supporting OEF was just a great honor,” she said.
Aside from being therapeutic for the soldiers, the writings have another purpose - they'll serve as a tool to help chronicle the latest chapter in America's rich military history.
"Pride in being in the military. I think it's important that there is a history out there that people can actually see what soldiers have done, what their division has done,” said Robert Mace.
"Sometimes we forget exactly how hard the hardship was, so when we write them down and we're very detailed about it, I think it has the ability to bring you back," added Raphael.
The best submissions will be published in an anthology next year.
Through Operation Homecoming, the NEA is dispatching several renowned authors, including Tom Clancy and Mark Bowden, author of "Black Hawk Down,” to military bases across the United States.
Updated: 6/4/2004 7:23 PM
By: Julie Vanderslice, News 10 Now Web Staff
When a soldier returns home from war, their first order of business is to catch up on things at home, but swirling around inside their heads are images, thoughts, and vivid memories of the things they've just experienced.
Operation Homecoming aims at helping those men and women put it all down on paper.
Under a project by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), two authors are giving writing seminars at Fort Drum.
SPC Sheila Raphael is participating in the seminars.
"I'm interested in learning how to document my experiences both in the Army over all but particularly in Afghanistan. Being a native New Yorker, I think 9/11 hit home for me and to be able to take part in supporting OEF was just a great honor,” she said.
Aside from being therapeutic for the soldiers, the writings have another purpose - they'll serve as a tool to help chronicle the latest chapter in America's rich military history.
"Pride in being in the military. I think it's important that there is a history out there that people can actually see what soldiers have done, what their division has done,” said Robert Mace.
"Sometimes we forget exactly how hard the hardship was, so when we write them down and we're very detailed about it, I think it has the ability to bring you back," added Raphael.
The best submissions will be published in an anthology next year.
Through Operation Homecoming, the NEA is dispatching several renowned authors, including Tom Clancy and Mark Bowden, author of "Black Hawk Down,” to military bases across the United States.