Making Connections with US Military

Veterans

Individual Assignment: Online Lesson

Rand Kuenzi

University Of Phoenix

Applications of Multimedia and Web Page Design

EDTC 560

Rosalind Bailey

Jan 29, 2007

 

Photo: Stuessy-Kuenzi

American Legion, New Glarus, Wisconsin—author’s Hometown

Note:

This lesson is designed as a 10-15 minute presentation. Hyperlinks are provided for additional reference during practical application of lesson material. If you choose to follow more than 4-5 hyperlinks during first viewing, you will definitely exceed the 15 minute time-target.

Dedication

This lesson is dedicated to the lives and memory of the Veterans within the author’s father’s family--Kuenzi and Palmer branches.

Name Service War

Otto Kuenzi US Army WWII

Bill Kuenzi Sr. US Army WWII

Helen Palmer US WAF WWII

Floyd Palmer US Navy WWII

Bill Kuenzi Jr. Air National Guard

Cold War

Dennis Kuenzi US Marines Cold War

Note: Partial list only. Records are being compiled by the family. To the best of the author’s knowledge all references in this lesson are accurate.

Making Connections with Veterans

Purpose:– Deepen your understanding and appreciation of our

US Military Veterans by making connections with them

Note: Before you begin the lesson, please take a moment to view a Public Service Announcement from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The video last 30 seconds.

“Thank a Veteran”

Making Connections with Veterans

• Facts:– US Veterans Administration programs operated at a

net cost of $101.5 billion in 2006– Families of Veterans may receive free lodging at a

Fisher House to be near their loved ones during lengthy recoveries.

– The National World War II Memorial was dedicated on April 29, 2004, nearly 22 years after the Vietnam War Memorial--November 13, 1982.

– Approximately 25.2 million veterans of the U.S. uniformed services were living in the United States and Puerto Rico at the end of 2000

Making Connections with VeteransQuotes

Veteran Bob Conroy said, "These memories are there a lot more vividly, even after 50 years, than probably what I did yesterday. I can tell you how deep the snow was. I can tell you the color of the snow and the blood the next morning. I know what equipment I had on. I know the words that we said. They stay with you."

Source: Battle of the Bulge: American Experience, PBS Online

Making Connections with VeteransQuotes

“Some memories are hard to re-open... This letter is being written not without emotion. I cannot remember a damn thing I did last week, but I can't forget a single moment of what happened up there, fifty years ago, in that frozen hell, the Ardennes.

– Bob Louis, WWII VeteranBoston, MassachusettsJanuary 20, 1995

Source: Battle of the Bulge: American Experience, PBS Online

Making Connections with Veterans

Deepen your understanding and appreciation of US Military Veterans – Comprehend a means of making a personal

connection with US Military Veterans– Can identify a method of making a geo-political

connection with US Military Veterans – Understand how to make a memory of a particular

connection you have made to a US Military Veteran or Veterans

Photo: The author’s Uncle, Bill, a Vietnam Vet, and wife, Jackie.

Make a PERSONAL connection

– Make a PERSONAL connection with US Military Veterans among acquaintances or relatives

• Pay tribute • Interview • Conduct research to gain

understanding• Participate in a significant

Veterans’ event

Photo: The author’s Uncle Bill Hustad (Far Left) In Vietnam with

Buddies.

Make a PERSONAL connection

– Pay tribute • The author and wife were the

only active duty USAF family present at the rededication of the Memorial to Lt. Frank Luke, Medal of Honor Recipient. Lt. Luke is a personal hero of the author and now, after the visit, truly Brothers-in-Arms.

• Find out more about the trip to France at the author’s Family Website

• Listen to an audio description of the trip.

The author at Lt. Frank Luke’s Gravesite near Murvaux, France.

Make a PERSONAL connection

– Interview• Telephone• Face to Face• Surrogate

• Interview Example.– The author conducted a telephone interview with Dr.

James F. McIntosh, author of Wisconsin at War. Wisconsin at War is a collection of stories reviewing every armed conflict the nation has fought in during the 20th century, focusing on the involvement of Wisconsin warriors.

Make a PERSONAL connection

– Conduct research to gain understanding• Online• Library• Museums• Personal Letters• Family Attics• Artifacts Wisconsin Veterans Museum

Make a PERSONAL connection

– Participate in a significant Veterans’ event

• Visit a Memorial• Visit a Cemetery • Participate in a Veteran’s

Day Ceremony• Attend a Speech

American Military Cemetery, Madingley, United Kingdom—

adjacent to Cambridge.

The author’s former aircraft commander is in foreground.

Make a GEO-POLITICAL Connection

– Make a GEO-POLITICAL connection with US Military Veterans from Home State and/or Local Area

• Interview • Conduct research• Visit a site of significance to

VeteransNew Glarus, the author’s

hometown is HERE!

Make a GEO-POLITICAL Connection

– Interview • Telephone• Face to Face• Surrogate

• Interview Example.– The author, a native Wisconsinite, conducted a telephone

interview with Dr. James F. McIntosh, author of Wisconsin at War. Wisconsin at War is a collection of stories reviewing every armed conflict the nation has fought in during the 20th century, focusing on the involvement of Wisconsin warriors.

Make a GEO-POLITICAL Connection

– Conduct research• Online search• Libraries• Museums

• Online Example: The Highground: Memorial to Fallen Wisconsin Veterans. Photo Courtesy.

Photo: The Nurse

Make a GEO-POLITICAL Connection

– Visit a site of significance to Veterans• Cemeteries• Museums• VA Hospitals• Memorials

• Site of Significance Example• The author and wife were the unofficial USAF delegates

present at the rededication of the Memorial to flyer Lt. Frank Luke, Medal of Honor Recipient. Author’s was stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England where his F-15E aircraft was “The Spirit of Frank Luke.” Several WWII veterans attended.

Making Connections with Veterans

– Make a MEMORY of your connection with US Military Veterans

• Written document• Audio or Video recording• Pictorial recording• Web page

Author’s Hometown Veterans Render 21-Gun Salute.

Make a MEMORABLE connection

– Written Document • Essay• Editorial• Article

• Written Document Example • As a student at the USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer

Academy, the author wrote an Editorial Paper about Veterans which became the basis of this lesson.

Photo: Veterans in author’s hometown

Make a MEMORABLE connection

– Audio or Video recording• Video record a personal site visit • Audio record - Library of Congress• Multimedia recordings - Library of Congress

• Audio Example. • While researching information about his Great

Uncle Otto, the author interviewed the Sergeant’s war bride--now widowed twice.

Make a MEMORABLE connection

– Pictorial Record• Scrap Book• Photo album

• Example Pictorial Display

Author’s Great Aunt Helen was in the Women’s Air Force. Photo

NOT author’s Aunt Helen.

Make a MEMORABLE connection

– Web page dedication • POW/MIA site• Cemetery site• Personal Tribute site• Veterans Links site

• Author’s tribute page to Veterans within his Family.

Photo: Gravesite of author’s Grandpa, Bill Kuenzi,

WWII Veteran.

Making Connections with Veterans

Hopefully you now have a Deeper understanding and appreciation of US Military Veterans and that you:– Comprehend a means of making a personal

connection with US Military Veterans– Can identify a method of making a geo-political

connection with US Military Veterans – Understand how to make a memory of a particular

connection you have made to a US Military Veteran or Veterans

Photo: The author’s Uncle, Bill Hustad, Second Vice President, Wisconsin VFW.

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to reflect on this lesson. Please let me know about your success in “Making Connections with Veterans” or simply click here to tell me this was a meaningful lesson.

- Senior Master Sergeant Rand Kuenzi United States Air Force

References:

• American Battle Monuments Commission. (2006). Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery and Memorial. http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/hc.php

• American Legion. (2006). http://www.legion.org/

• US Department of Veterans Affairs. (2006). http://www.va.gov/

• Veterans of Foreign Wars. (2006). http://www.vfw.org/