Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White initiated the Illinois Veterans' History Project to create a permanent record of the names and stories of Illinois war veterans and civilians who served our state and country during war, so that their contributions will not be forgotten.

To participate in the Illinois Veterans' History Project, Veterans or their family members can complete the Illinois Patriots Information Form and also share their remembrances on the back or on a separate sheet of paper. Those who participate will receive an Official Certificate of Appreciation for their participation in this project. The Illinois Patriots Information Form is also available at Driver Services facilites statewide.

The Illinois State Archives, a division of the Secretary of State’s office, will collect the information and place it in a permanent repository. White's initiative follows a law passed by the federal government authorizing the Library of Congress to collect and preserve the histories of American veterans and civilians who served in wars from World War I to the present.

If you would like to participate in the National Veterans' History Project through the Library of Congress, please visit their website at www.loc.gov/vets/.