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| American Veterans Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | American Veterans Center |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Richmond, Virginia |
| Leader name | See Organization and Leadership |
American Veterans Center is a nonprofit veterans service organization that promotes the study and celebration of United States Armed Forces service, particularly in twentieth- and twenty-first-century conflicts. It hosts annual events, produces media, and publishes scholarship to honor veterans from wars including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The center draws participation from veterans, historians, journalists, and policymakers.
The organization was established in 2004 by veterans and civic leaders in Richmond, Virginia with ties to institutions such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans. Early leadership included retired United States Navy and United States Army officers who sought to create a venue for oral history and public commemoration similar to the National WWII Museum and the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. The center expanded its national profile by convening panels with scholars from universities such as Georgetown University, George Washington University, Virginia Military Institute, and United States Military Academy faculty. It developed relationships with media organizations like NPR, C-SPAN, and the History Channel to disseminate veteran testimonies.
The stated mission emphasizes commemoration, education, and research related to American veterans from conflicts including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and recent campaigns such as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Activities include oral history collection modeled on projects such as the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, archival collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration, and fellowship programs similar to those at the Society for Military History and the Smithsonian Institution. The center engages veterans from organizations like AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Annual signature events include a national conference and the American Valor symposium that parallel commemorations like D-Day anniversaries and observances at the Arlington National Cemetery and the National World War II Memorial. The organization hosts panel discussions, oral history recordings, film screenings featuring works from Ken Burns, collaborations with the Museum of the American Revolution, and ceremonies honoring recipients of decorations such as the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Navy Cross. It organizes roundtables with journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal and academic sessions with historians from Yale University, Princeton University, and the University of Virginia. Youth outreach includes partnerships with programs like Boy Scouts of America and ROTC units at institutions such as Texas A&M University and Norwich University.
The center publishes a quarterly magazine and produces radio and podcast content featuring interviews with veterans and historians; formats are comparable to productions by National Public Radio and the Veterans History Project. Contributors include scholars affiliated with Columbia University, Pennsylvania State University, and Oxford University presses, as well as journalists from Reuters and Associated Press. The organization curates oral histories and video archives that complement collections at the National WWII Museum and the Imperial War Museums in cross-Atlantic collaborations. It has released monographs, edited volumes, and documentary films that reference battles such as Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Tet Offensive.
The center administers awards recognizing valor, leadership, and public service, analogous to honors like the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for public figures and institutional recognitions from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It has honored veterans and public servants, including Senator John McCain, General Colin Powell, Secretary Robert Gates, and civic leaders associated with commemorative initiatives such as the World War II Memorial dedication and anniversary events for the Battle of the Bulge. Peer organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have cited its contributions to public history.
Governance has included retired flag officers from the United States Navy and United States Army, prominent scholars from institutions like West Point and Annapolis, and executives from nonprofit organizations such as the United Service Organizations and the American Red Cross. Boards and advisory panels feature historians from the National Defense University, curators from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History, and media figures from PBS and Fox News. The organization operates with staff based in Richmond, Virginia and regional volunteers across states including Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California.
Funding sources include philanthropic foundations such as the Kresge Foundation, grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, corporate sponsorships from defense contractors and businesses with veteran hiring programs, and donations from veterans' families. Partnerships extend to museums and academic centers like the National World War II Museum, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and university history departments at University of Southern California and Boston University. Collaborative projects have received support from state arts councils and veteran service organizations including AMVETS and Disabled American Veterans.
Category:Veterans' organizations of the United States