WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) expressed her appreciation to U.S. veterans who will film their stories at a celebration of their service in Willow Springs this evening.  The tapes will be submitted to the Veterans History Project as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

“I’m truly excited about the veterans history project, and I am grateful for the people of Willow Springs for getting behind this effort to preserve the stories of our Southern Missouri veterans in this important archive,” Emerson said.  “I’m hopeful that programs like this one will be repeated throughout our congressional district in the coming months, not only to create an historic record, but to bring our communities together to learn about our veterans’ brave service to this great nation.”

At the event, each of the 24 veterans who film their histories for the Veterans History Project will receive an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in their honor from Rep. Emerson presented by her Chief of Staff, Lloyd Smith.

Former congressman Wendell Bailey, who now serves as the ombudsman of the regional office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, assembled the event, which is sponsored by the Willow Springs Community Foundation.  Rep. Bailey is a long-standing member of the Willow Springs business community.  Presiding Commissioner Larry Spence will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. CST for the event at the Star Theater in Willow Springs, and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. CST.

More information about the Veterans History Project is available online at www.house.gov/emerson.