Veterans Day: Books, Military Databases, and Services Available through Your Library

Veterans provide an immense service to our country, so on November 11 each year, we celebrate their service and sacrifices. Created in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson, Veterans Day (originally called Armistice Day) celebrated the anniversary of the end of WWI. In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday and made it a celebration of all living veterans. 

There are thousands of books detailing the lives and experiences of veterans from around the world. Here are a few to get you started:

Service: A Navy Seal at War by Marcus Luttrell is an autobiographical account from Luttrell detailing war stories about his time as a member of SEAL Team 5. This book is filled with miraculous rescues, tributes to unbreakable brotherhoods, and questions about what it means to leave a legacy. 

The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose by Martha Raddatz proudly displays portraits of dozens of warriors from the 9/11 veteran generation. These accounts demonstrate remarkable accounts of bravery and heroism both on and off the battlefield. 

Once a Warrior: How One Veteran Found a New Mission Closer to Home by Jake Wood is a thrilling memoir detailing Wood’s life after he returned home from his deployment. After watching several men on his unit commit suicide, Wood realized he needed a new mission. Here he dedicated his life to provide aid to those suffering from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. 

Forsyth County Public Library is also proud to have digital resources for veterans and their families. For those looking for military records, Fold3 is a database with over 600,000 military records ranging from the American Revolution through the Afghan War. Resources for non-military records such as Federal Census records and city directories can also be found here. While most of what can be found is United States based, the website also offers military records from other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom. Other military records, family records, and national history documents can be located through the National Archive. 

Some types of military records that can be found include

• Service & enlistment records
• Pension files
• Unit histories
• War diaries
• Draft Registration Cards
• Casualty lists
• Prisoner of War records
• Plus more!

Forsyth County Public Library also has social resources for veterans that can be found through USA.gov and The United Way of Forsyth County. USA.gov provides access to information such as military pay, retirement benefits, and military branch information. Veteran-specific job opportunities can also be found here. These opportunities are meant to help service members transition back to civilian life. Through the United Way, veterans have access to support services such as loans, burial benefits, education and employment resources, and social support groups. 

Forsyth County Public Library thanks our veterans for their service in the armed forces!

Basil Marcus

Information Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

Kasey Bonnano

Collection Support Aide

Sharon Forks Library

Staff Picks: Books about Juneteenth

Juneteenth For Mazie by Floyd Cooper

On June 19, 1865 soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas announcing the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery in the United States. Every year the United States commemorates this historic event on June 19.  In Juneteenth for Mazie, a young girl learns about her own family history from the first Juneteenth through events of the Civil Rights era as she prepares for the annual Juneteenth celebration. Juneteenth for Mazie uses thoughtful text and colorful illustrations to help young children learn about this important national holiday.