The Los Angeles National Cemetery (LANC) is the final resting place for numerous minority veterans. Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs has commissioned Loyola Marymount University (LMU) to undertake the "LMU Digital Veterans Legacy Project" (LDVL). The LDVL project aims to engage LMU students, local high school students, and community members in discovering and documenting the stories of marginalized minority veterans. Through digital media, the project seeks to promote public education and enhance understanding of their contributions to the nation and sacrifices made for the people.
Peter M. Chow, a Chinese-American veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for his service in the Vietnam War, has been appointed as an Advisory Board Member of the LDVL Project. He emphasizes that Asian-American servicemen have made outstanding contributions in safeguarding the security and freedom of American society. Their experiences during their military service are a valuable heritage that, through public education and digital media, can help the public gain a more comprehensive and profound understanding of Asian-American veterans' service contributions and personal stories. Ultimately, this project aims to foster a harmonious and stable society for all Americans.
According to Mr. Chow, the LDVL Project aims to provide a means for LMU faculty, staff, students, and local high school students to research minority veterans buried at the Los Angeles National Cemetery (LANC). Additionally, it seeks to establish a robust research foundation and develop digital media processes, including social media posts, short videos, online tutorials, etc., to educate Americans about their research and the stories of minority veterans. To achieve these goals, the project's first year (October 2022 - September 2023) is divided into four phases.
The first phase of the project involves identifying key approaches to researching minority veterans and developing standard guidelines. Operational procedures include compiling or creating a list of veterans buried at the LANC, searching for relevant information on veterans from public data sources, understanding the significance of veterans' experiences, finalizing criteria for the scope of research projects, and writing biographies for minority veterans.
The second phase of the project focuses on conducting model studies on Chinese and Asian-American veterans and Buffalo Soldiers buried at the Los Angeles National Cemetery. Mr. Chow is responsible for contacting and organizing various Chinese and Asian-American organizations in Los Angeles, including the Chinese American Museum, American Legion Cathay Post 628, Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC), Chinese American Museum, UCLA Asian American Studies Center, etc. He will assist in establishing and maintaining relationships between the LDVL Project Director and these organizational leaders. He will also collaborate with these organizations to gather information on American veterans from the Chinese and Asian-American communities through public events, announcements, and press conferences.
In addition, Peter Chow will invite Marjorie Lee, the editor-in-chief of "DUTY & HONOR" at UCLA Asian American Studies Center, to participate in the project. She will deliver speeches on the historical achievements of Asian-American soldiers and their contributions to American society.
The third phase of the project involves creating and maintaining an open platform through a public website and database that includes guidelines and resources for future research projects on minority veterans. The project will hire digital archivists to convert paper documents into digital formats and allow individuals to register and add new information. The platform will provide access to information for teachers and students to explore research findings from primary materials and other projects.
Finally, the fourth phase of the project involves publicly showcasing the results of the model studies at the end of the first year. The LDVL Project aims to inspire faculty and students at schools to create their own research and curriculum on minority veterans. The project will invite Asian-American high school students from Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley to participate and continue researching Asian-American veterans buried at the Los Angeles National Cemetery.
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