To mark this historic occasion, the Library of Congress dispatched a band of roving reporters (volunteer staff members) to capture the stories of attendees by recording short vignettes with veterans whom they encountered on the Mall. Wearing VHP baseball caps and armed with portable tape recorders, these interviewers walked up to hundreds of veterans on the Mall and asked them to share their stories. The result? Over two thousand audio recordings conducted over the span of four days, documenting the thoughts and experiences of wartime veterans who attended the Reunion.

Photos by Michaela McNichol, Diane Kresh and Elizabeth Fulford, Library of Congress.