Milwaukee Irish Fest seeks veterans for oral history project

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Irish Fest has teamed up with the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project to collect, record, and archive oral history interviews of veterans from all eras.  

The interviews gathered from the festival will be uploaded on a website where people can learn about war history first-hand.

"All veterans are encouraged to come and share their stories," said Mike Mitchell, executive director of Milwaukee Irish Fest. "Interviews will be conducted in a private and quiet area on the grounds and archived online for preservation.”

The festival will also have a Heroes Hut area, where active and retired military members, veterans of all military branches, first responders and up to three family members can relax along the lakefront with complimentary snacks. There will also be non-alcoholic beverages and veterans' resources available. 

Interviews will be scheduled and conducted throughout the weekend. 

To sign up to be interviewed, or to recommend a friend or relative to be interviewed, contact Melissa Ward at [email protected]. Veterans can also sign up inside the Heroes Hut.

Milwaukee Irish Fest takes place on the Summerfest grounds from August 15-18.

To learn more about the GVSU Veterans History Project, click here.