The United States Navy Memorial Student Interview Program
Program Highlights and News
The goal of the Student Interview Program History Corps is to digitally preserve our Nation’s history by interviewing Veterans, Armed Service Personnel, individuals who witnessed history, and by participating in historic Sea Service events. The Student Interview Program began in 2013 and is comprised of pilot schools, which have embarked on new pathways of recording and preserving American History. Participating schools are encouraged to interview members of their school community to continue the tradition of preserving history. Interviews have included teachers, parents, school alumni, and more. In addition to interviewing family and friends associated with the school who have served, member schools have also branched out by contacting local nursing homes and Veterans organizations.
We are proud to announce that thanks to the hard work and dedication of our pilot schools, we will be expanding our efforts to include educational institutions from middle schools to high schools ready, willing, and able join our efforts to preserve and archive our nations history.
2016 was an exciting year for the Student Interview Program. Member schools conducted numerous interviews at nursing homes in their communities and students participated in extraordinary maritime events which included pre-commissioning ceremonies and commemorations. To focus on three of the many events which occurred this year, member schools attended the USS John P. Murtha LPD-26 and USS Zumwalt DDG-1000 pre-commissioning events, as well as the 75th Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony. The following passages reflect unique opportunities for our member schools from 2016.
2016 Student Interview Program visits the USS Murtha
Lenape Middle School History Corps, one of the members of the United States Navy Memorial Student Interview Program, was invited to attend the pre-commissioning events of the USS John P. Murtha LPD-26 in Octobe
r of 2016. The event took place at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, PA. The Lenape Middle School History Corps is made up of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students interested in preserving American History. These students interviewed members of USS John P. Murtha's crew and the ship's Captain to archive and preserve this historic moment in United States History. Lenape Middle School was the only media team comprised of students to participate and attend this event. The students toured the ship and learned about the role of the USS John P. Murtha in our world today.
2016 Student Interview Program visits the USS Zumwalt
The Central Bucks High School West History Corps was invited to attend the pre- commissioning events of the USS Zumwalt DDG 1000. The event took place in Baltimore, Maryland. The members of this club are 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. The History Corps Student Interview Program 
of Central Bucks High School West was the only interview team made up of students to participate in this event. The students interviewed members of the Zumwalt's crew and engaged in a press conference with Captain Kirk to archive and preserve this historic moment in United States History. The students toured the ship and gained a greater understanding of new technologies and how lessons learned in school such as STEM can lead to the latest developments to protect our nation.
2016 The Student Interview Program attends the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor
Member schools of the Navy Memorial Student Interview Program were invited to attend the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Ceremony held at Valley Forge. The event was hosted by the 
Philadelphia Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivor Remembrance Committee. The students from grades 7-12 interviewed the participants and family members of Pearl Harbor survivors to preserve their memories and experiences of that momentous day. Veterans and family members shared the significance of December 7th, 1941 and their memories of the events that unfolded on that day. The students also witnessed the Memorial Ceremony and heard Pennsylvania State Representative Thomas Murt recounted stories about his uncle, Paul Brown, who survived the attack, serving on the USS Shaw. The interviews conducted will be archived for future generations.