Tag Military

Arlington National Cemetary on a fall day, with a blue sky and the leaves changing colors.

Veterans Day at the Library

brandondwightbannister Leave a comment
Arlington National Cemetary on a fall day, with a blue sky and the leaves changing colors.
Photo by SteenJepsen from Pixabay

by Brandon B.

Every November 11, our nation honors the brave men and women of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and National Guard who have sacrificed for the well-being of our country. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day, recognizing the service of all who have worn the uniform—both in times of war and peace. From the annual Army vs. Navy football game and local parades to a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, America continues to express its deep gratitude to our armed forces.

HCLS is profoundly thankful for the courage and commitment of our veterans and active-duty military members, whose sacrifices help keep our world safe. Whether you are currently serving, a veteran, or simply interested in learning more about the military, your library is here to support you. HCLS offers a wide range of books, resources, and events designed to meet your research, educational, and entertainment needs.

In our Equity Resource Collection at the Central Branch, you can explore the powerful stories of historic African American service members, including the Buffalo Soldiers, the Six Triple Eight, and the Tuskegee Airmen. Looking to connect with others who have served? Keep an out for the upcoming Veterans Book Club, launching in February 2026 at HCLS Central Branch, for monthly Sunday gatherings and engaging discussions.

You can read inspiring biographies of distinguished leaders such as General Colin Powell, General Norman Schwarzkopf, and Senator John McCain, or enjoy military-themed films with family and friends, including Saving Private Ryan, Glory, The Hurt Locker, American Sniper, and Miracle at St. Anna.
This Veterans Day, we proudly salute the courage, sacrifice, and enduring service of all who have served our nation.

Lullaby Project: Veterans Songwriting Program
For veterans & service members. For more information about the schedule and location, and to register, visit bit.ly/Veterans-songs
Project runs November 14 – January 17
The Lullaby Project offers veterans, service members, and their families the opportunity to take part in a songwriting workshop with Grammy-winning songwriters. Participants have the option to either write a Lullaby for children or grandchildren, a song for a spouse or a special someone in your life or in honor of a fellow service member, or write a song to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026. No musical knowledge or experience needed.

In partnership with Baltimore Classical Guitar Society presents, which has created over 100 songs with parents, grandparents and veterans. In collaboration with Carnegie Hall, Weill Music Institute

Brandon is a Customer Service Specialist at HCLS Central Branch who loves reading, football, and taking nice long walks around his neighborhood.

Our next chapter starts soon when the blog moves to the newly redesigned hclibrary.org. All the same great reviews and news, plus more library information!

Man in jeans and grey T-shirt leans up against a brick wall reading an open book.

Veterans Book Group: A Journey

Rohini G. Leave a comment
The mostly blue cover features a an illustration of people gathering at the Vietnam Veterans Wall, drawn in the primitive style.

by Rohini G.

Last year we embarked on a powerful journey of connection through reading and discussion among veterans in Howard County. This journey continues in 2021. Our facilitator, David Owens, USNA Class of ‘94, shares his thoughts in a candid interview.    

David, you are a former Naval officer and an entrepreneur with your own media production company. You are also the facilitator of a Veterans Book Group (VBG) at the library. Tell us more about all these different hats that you don so effortlessly.  

I do indeed juggle a lot, but I love it! I want to be someone who makes communities better, and thus volunteering (Veterans Reading Group, etc.) makes me feel more satisfied. I’m a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and spent six years active duty stationed at Naval Station San Diego. I was also a news reporter for 15 years after leaving the service. 

Running a small business has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done, and much of the success of the company centers on human connecting and teambuilding. I learned many of those skills in the military and try to bring those abilities to the reading group as well.  

The Veterans Book Group was a first for Howard County Library System and a first for you. What prompted you to take on this role? 

First of all, I love this reading group, and I hope it continues! I wanted to be involved in the group because I love to read, and I like listening to other people’s opinions on things. This has been the best of both worlds for me! We all read the same book, yet we sometimes have different perspectives, which helps us all grow. Additionally, it is awesome to meet new people and connect with them. 

What makes a Veterans Book Group different from other book groups? 

Just by the nature of the job, military members tend to have experience working in high intense environments with diverse groups of people. I believe those experiences facilitate deeper discussions in our group. I also believe there is increased sensitivity and empathy among the members because we understand some have had life-altering experiences during their service/lives. As for the readings, we are a relaxed group that gives members plenty of time to read all the books. 

Would you like to share any special memories or experiences from last year’s VBG? 

Last year we were honored to have author Madeline Mysko (Bringing Vincent Home) join us for a session. She was so gracious, and having her talk about how the book was really a reflection of her own experiences brought a realness factor to our discussion.  

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Covid-19. Our group initially met in person, then held our final few meetings virtually. Howard County Library and Maryland Humanities were great at adjusting on the fly. Being able to remain connected to people brought positive energy for me, and provided a bit of normal human interaction during such a difficult time. 

I understand that participants at VBG read novels, short stories, articles, and just about every format. What was your favorite story, book or excerpt from what you read last year? 

Again, I have to give a lot of kudos to Howard County Library and Maryland Humanities because they work hard to assist the facilitators in selecting a good cross-section of books. Bringing Vincent Home was my favorite. The characters in her story were so identifiable and really hit home for me. I honestly had to remind myself on several occasions that it was actually a novel.  

You are embarking on another journey with VBG in 2021. What are your plans for this year? How are you feeling about it? 

I am really excited about the diversity of subjects in this year’s books. We will explore issues with the VA (Dead Soldier by Carmelo Rodriguez), as well as a few eras that might not get read as much (Korean War and Civil War). We are also planning to invite authors to our discussions; in fact, Carmelo Rodriguez has expressed a desire to speak with us. I’m looking forward to the journey, and I know the group is going to have a lot of great discussions and connections! 

The Veterans Book Group 2021 starts on February 2. For more information and to register, click HERE.