Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2018-2019 | Page 31

B
efore Lisa Daniels stumbled upon
Unsung Heroes has put on a pleth- one of the best parts of these wide-rang-
an old photograph in 2000, she nev- ora of multimedia exhibitions locally ing exhibits is the response from visitors.
er knew that her grandmother had and across California, including “We “You hear comments like, ‘I didn’t know,’”
served as a riveter in the Brooklyn Also Served: African Americans in the
Range says. “They want to know more
Navy Yard during World War II. About Military,” “Welcome Home Vietnam Vet- when the information is not widely seen.
one month after the discovery, Daniels’ erans,” and “Heritage: The Legacy of the
How often are these stories told?”
grandmother passed away, taking that Tuskegee Airmen.” “HerStory: The Im-
Daniels says that each exhibit costs
history with her.
pact of Women in the Armed Forces” is
between $5,000 and $10,000, and fund-
The discovery prompted Daniels, a
the most recent show, on exhibit during
ing primarily comes from private dona-
history buff, to realize the challenges
March 2019. These exhibits aren’t just tions, in-kind donations and corporate
of finding African-Americans’ mil-
donations. Daniels’ next goal is to
itary stories in books and media
publish a manuscript with docu-
coverage. So she began reaching
mentary footage that will preserve
out to other families in search of
these stories. Daniels’ hope is to
lost stories. Daniels felt that these
bring an understanding of the im-
unsung experiences needed to be
portant role men and women of Af-
heard, which planted the seed for
rican descent played in our national
the vision that would grow into the
history.
Sacramento-based Unsung Heroes
“The objectives of the project are
Living History Project, founded in
to bring the stories of veterans to
2005.
life,” Daniels says, “and affirm black
Unsung Heroes is a nonprofit
veterans’ patriotic pride in serving
that collects, preserves and exhib-
their nation with loyalty and hero-
its the stories of African-Americans
ism in times of conflict; to provide a
who served in the U.S. military. Vet-
forum to reclaim ‘voice’ for veteran
erans of African descent and their
military men and women and their
family members share oral histo-
families; … and to preserve, through
ries, along with artifacts from their
mixed media, the African-American
— Lisa Daniels, founder, Unsung Heroes
own experiences in time of war, in-
legacy of military service.” n
Living History Project
cluding photographs, letters, per-
sonal diary entries and more. The
Lillie Apostolos lives in Sacramento,
nonprofit has collected the stories of about one conflict or war — they range where she writes about fresh produce,
more than 200 veterans.
from the American Revolution to cur- arts, culture and the local economy. She
“Unfortunately, there were not rent military operations, with partic- enjoys hiking the Sierra Nevada, read-
enough books to enlighten present
ipating veterans and family members ing and amateur gardening. Follow her
and future generations of the role of assisting in the curation process.
@LillieApostolos.
African-Americans in wartime and in
Barbara Range, director and curator
peacetime,” Daniels says. The project at the Brickhouse Gallery in Oak Park —
is open to all who wish to contribute
which was the first location to host the
their stories, experiences, pictures and “We Also Served: African Americans in
accounts of veterans of African descent.
the Military” exhibit in 2015 — says that
“Unfortunately, there
were not enough books
to enlighten present
and future generations
of the role of African-
Americans in wartime and in
peacetime.”

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