There are some stories we wish we had asked more about. Some conversations we wish we had started sooner. As the grandchild of two World War II Navy veterans, this resonates with me deeply.
My grandmother enlisted in 1944, training at Hunter College in New York before being stationed at the Treasure Island Shipyard in San Francisco. Like many women of her generation, she stepped forward to serve her country during a time of great need, blazing trails for future generations of servicewomen.
My grandfather served in Naval Intelligence at the Charlestown Navy Yard before being assigned to the USS Norman Scott, a destroyer that saw action throughout the Pacific Theater. His service included time in Pearl Harbor and the Marshall and Mariana Islands. During the Battle of Tinian, he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. Their individual paths of service eventually led them to meet, and they married on Mare Island, California in 1945 before both receiving honorable discharges that August.
While I was fortunate to know pieces of their military service, there are countless questions I wish I had asked. Like many veterans of their generation, they weren't the type to openly share their experiences. Military service was something they did out of duty, not something they often discussed. This reluctance to speak about their service – so common among veterans – means that many precious memories and profound experiences remain untold.
These unasked questions and unspoken stories inspired us to create the Share Your Story Veteran journal. We developed this guided memory book to provide veterans with a private, personal space to document their experiences at their own pace. For many veterans who find it difficult to speak about their service, writing can offer a more comfortable way to share their stories.
This thoughtfully crafted journal features over 80 prompts designed to help veterans from all branches share their unique military journeys. From basic training to active duty, and the transition back to civilian life, each question invites meaningful reflection and storytelling. The prompts encourage veterans to share not just the facts of their service, but the emotions, challenges, and triumphs that defined their experience.
We're proud to announce that this journal is now available at select prestigious locations, including the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and Gettysburg Flag Works – venues that truly understand the importance of preserving military history and honoring those who served.
Don't wait to start these important conversations. Every veteran has a story that deserves to be told, preserved, and passed down through generations. The Share Your Story Veteran journal provides the perfect platform to capture these precious memories while we still can.
Our veterans carried our flag through moments of history. Now it's our turn to carry their stories forward.
Start preserving these precious memories today - view our Share Your Story Veteran journal. Retailers interested in offering this meaningful keepsake to their customers can learn more on our wholesale guided journals.
