Close up of the hands of an artist working on a creative art project with paper for veterans of war.

The Telling War Project


War cannot be heard unless it is told. Telling War's purpose is to engage and support the veteran voice through a variety of story forms.

What is Telling War?

The goal of this project is to illuminate and amplify the Veteran voice because these voices have a lot to offer and because they can add much-needed complexity, shading and dimension to “the war story” and the public’s perception of our fighting men and women.

Our Mission

Veterans are unique people. For one, they chose adventure. Whether they deployed to a war zone or not, they actively stepped out of their comfort zone, did their best to serve others, and have a rich perspective to share with the broader civilian public. Telling War welcomes the Veteran presence and hopes to reveal its dynamism beyond park statues, parades, and bumper stickers.

Engaging With Veterans

There’s often a reverence for Veterans without any real listening among the civilian public. Telling War seeks to inspire, engage, and support the Veteran voice through a series of free public workshops led by outstanding authors, artists, and makers who happen to be Veterans themselves.

Veterans Share Their Stories

The Telling War Tapes - Part 1

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What We’re About

NEH Grant Recipient

Dr. Lisa Silvestri received a $100,000 NEH Grant for her community-based initiative, Telling War.

Calendar of Events

Learn about and register for the Telling War Dialogue Series. It's free and open to all Veterans.

Our Photo and Video Gallery

We've captured images and video from past events to share with you.

Want to connect with The Telling War Project?