Good afternoon,
My name is Dr. Ed Benoit, III, and I am one of the Co-PIs of the research team for the Virtual Footlocker Project 2.0, a national initiative funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and led by researchers at Louisiana State University and Kent State University.
Our project, an expansion of the original award-winning Virtual Footlocker Project, is dedicated to helping Vietnam-era veterans preserve their personal military records—the letters, photographs, and mementos that tell the story of their service. These personal records are not only vital for family legacy and historical memory, but they can also be crucial for securing VA benefits and accessing care, especially when official records are missing.
As a professional on the front lines of veteran support, your expertise is invaluable. We are conducting a limited number of focus groups with experienced Veteran Service Organization representatives to understand the challenges and opportunities you see every day. Your insights will directly shape the development of a national program model to better support Vietnam-era veterans in documenting and preserving their histories.
We would be honored if you would join us for a 90-minute virtual focus group to discuss your experiences. The session will explore:
- The types of personal records Vietnam veterans share with you.
- The role these records play in benefits claims and storytelling.
- The challenges you and veterans face when these records are missing or disorganized.
- The resources that would help you better serve the veteran community in this area.
This is a unique opportunity to ensure that the tools and training we create are grounded in the real-world needs of veterans and the organizations that support them.
If you are interested in participating and sharing your valuable perspective, please complete the registration survey at https://lsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cWa9yzcieuTVUW
Thank you for your incredible service to our nation’s veterans. We believe that by working together, we can ensure the stories of the Vietnam generation are preserved for their families, their communities, and for history.
Cordially,
Edward Benoit III, Ph.D. (He/Him)
Interim Director & Associate Professor
School of Information Studies
Louisiana State University
223B Peabody Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
office 225-578-1469 | fax 225-578-4581
ebenoit@lsu.edu | lsu.edu | sis.lsu.edu