Library of Congress Hosts a Vets Town Hall

The Library of Congress recently hosted its inaugural Vets Town Hall inside the Thomas Jefferson building. Established more than 200 years ago, the Library of Congress serves as the de facto national library of the United States, and also it serves as the library and research service of the U.S. Congress. The Thomas Jefferson Building, which is situated across the street from the U.S. Capitol and also referred to as the Library of Congress main building, first opened in 1897 and has since housed millions of artifacts, documents, and books. It is in this sacred building that the Vets Town Hall convened.

Vets Town Hall, founded by award-winning author, journalist, and filmmaker Sebastian Junger, gives veterans of all eras and generations the chance to address the community directly and speak about their military and veteran experience. During these events, veterans are allowed to speak for approximately ten minutes, with the caveat that there is no discussion of foreign policy or the debate on the justifications or merits of war.

The idea to host a Vets Town Hall at the Library of Congress came about during a Student Veterans of America NatCon when Andrew Huber, Liaison Specialist for the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress, met the Deputy Director of Vets Town Halls, Kristen Eaton.

During this Vets Town Hall, which was more-so focused on education, speakers spoke about their service and post-military transition to higher education. An Army veteran and Cornell University alum was the first to speak. He spoke about his role as a medical pilot, which was a formative period in his life. Noting the differences between medically trained personnel and non-medical personnel, he stated that when the time came to conduct a mission, the only differences between them were their medic status. Everyone involved exuded a great willingness to do whatever was necessary to complete the mission.

Another Army veteran and Cornell University alum spoke during the Vets Town Hall. His remarks focused on his experience post-service transitioning to higher education. Prior to attending Cornell, he attended a community college in Syracuse, New York; he wanted to express that “it is possible to go beyond a community college to a prestigious university.”

The Library of Congress plans to continue to host more Vets Town Halls in the future. One of their goals is to give veterans a voice within their communities and in a location whose grandeur and prestige pays homage to the veterans’ service.