Documenting history is one of the most important things we can do, so that future generations can learn, not only from our mistakes, but also from our triumphs and as a way of walking in someone else’s footsteps – to see how we once lived. ThurstonTalk.com is part of that, documenting history in our local area. We recently did an article on Harvey Drahos’ 100th birthday. That article was seen by Risha Sharma, a young man traveling the world to interview World War II Veterans. Sharma is coming to Olympia this weekend to interview Drahos, and hopefully other veterans.
“I have always been interested in WWII ever since I was a child, the WWII Heroes have been my idols and the type of men I would hope to aspire to become,” Sharma explains. “They literally saved the world from tyranny and destruction. I started reading novels about WWII veterans in high school and wanted to meet veterans in real life so I started riding my bicycle to the local retirement home and the staff leader was so happy to see a younger person there that he decided to personally introduce me to 25 different WWII veterans and I would go there every day after school to interview them.”
Sharma was fascinated by the stores he was told, and preserving them became a passion of his. His senior year of high school, the local paper did an article on his mission and people started to contact him, tell him they knew of WWII veterans he could interview. “It almost became like a job,” he says.
Interviewing World War II Veterans
After he graduated, CBS Sunday Morning did a story on his mission. That helped him raise funding. He also got a huge email response – about 10,500 emails and calls from veterans. Sharma decided to hit the road and interview them all.
He has now interviewed 2,010 WWII veterans across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. “The veterans are given free DVD copies of their interviews and we share their stories with many partner schools and universities who incorporate into their Second World War curriculum,” Sharma explains.
He runs a nonprofit, Remember WWII with a YouTube channel called Remember WWII where he posts some of the interviews. Millions have watched. “I am just trying to interview as many veterans as possible while they are among us,” he adds. “I am also trying to make a TV series to honor these veterans.”
Remember WWII Comes to Olympia
“The importance of this project cannot be overstated,” says Karen Schoeseel, who first put ThurstonTalk.com in touch with Drahos. “Hearing directly from these veterans provides an enduring and lasting narrative for current and future generations to better understand the personal and historical impacts of WWII. The memories of these veterans are invaluable; it is essential to capture their voices now since the number of living WWII veterans is decreasing with each passing day.”
Risha Sharma is coming to Olympia to interview Harvey Drahos, and hopefully other veterans, July 2. If you now of other local veterans, reach out to Sharma via the Remember WWII website or by calling 202.315.8743.
You can also help by donating to their mission.
