“Thank You For Your Story” Honors 80 Veterans on the 80th Anniversary of WWII’s End
There are some milestones that ask us to pause, to take stock of who we are as a nation and how we got here. The approaching 80th anniversary of the end of World War II is one of those moments. Fewer than 1% of WWII veterans are still with us today, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Their stories—rich with courage, pain, resilience, and sacrifice—are at risk of vanishing unless we act with urgency.
That’s why Ancestry, the global leader in family history, has joined forces with the WWII Veterans History Project to make sure these voices are not just remembered, but heard. Together, they’ve launched “Thank You For Your Story,” a storytelling initiative that will preserve the firsthand accounts of 80 veterans, one for each year since the end of the war. And the best part? These stories won’t live in dusty archives—they’ll be shared, accessible, and discoverable by anyone who wants to connect with the past.
Crista Cowan, Ancestry’s Corporate Genealogist, framed it beautifully: “Every family has a World War II story waiting to be discovered. These veterans’ sacrifices not only deserve remembrance, but their wisdom and experiences offer invaluable lessons that can guide our lives today.”
That’s what strikes me most about this project. It’s not about dates, battles, or statistics—it’s about people. It’s about the teenager who stormed a beach in Normandy, the nurse who tended to the wounded under fire, the airman who looked fear in the eye thousands of feet above ground, and the families who bore the weight of waiting for them to return. These aren’t just war stories; they’re American stories. They’re our stories.
Benjamin Mack-Jackson, Founder of the WWII Veterans History Project, knows the urgency. “This anniversary is a powerful reminder that the opportunity to hear directly from those who lived through it is disappearing fast,” he said. Through this partnership, his organization’s decade-long mission—to capture and share veterans’ voices—will now be amplified on a global scale.
The full commemorative experience launches this November, just in time for Veterans Day. But Ancestry isn’t making us wait to start exploring. Their WWII Discovery and Preservation Hub is already live at www.ancestry.com/wwii, featuring curated record collections and resources for anyone eager to trace their family’s connection to the war.
This partnership is about gratitude and legacy. It’s about looking a veteran in the eye—even if only through a story told on screen or a memory captured in print—and saying: Thank you. Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, your story.
Because when we preserve their voices, we do more than honor the past. We remind ourselves who we are, and we chart a more grounded path forward.
Retired U.S. Army Combat Veteran | NAHJ Member | Writer | Cultural Advocate
I’m Daniel Crespo-Montero Sr., although many know me as El Indio Gordo. I’m the Managing Editor of OMG Magazine, a retired U.S. Army combat veteran, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and a writer with a passion for culture, community, and storytelling.
My journey hasn’t exactly followed a traditional path, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I spent more than three decades in the U.S. Army, working in military law enforcement, paralegal services, and human resources. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish and an Associate degree in Small Business Entrepreneurship. Those experiences have shaped how I understand people, leadership, and the world around me.
As a proud Boricua with Indigenous Taíno roots, cultural preservation is especially important to me. Within the Higuayagua Taíno community, I’ve served in several leadership roles and currently serve as Pennsylvania’s Regional Kasike and Bahari for Atunwa.
My community involvement has also included serving as a New York City Ambassador for the National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce. I’m also a former Boy Scout and proud Scout dad.
As Managing Editor, I enjoy exploring entertainment, lifestyle, food and beverages, travel, business, and culture. I believe journalism should inform, entertain, challenge perspectives, and give a voice to stories that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Beyond the magazine, I’m a father, grandfather, cultural advocate, and independent writer who enjoys sharing observations, experiences, and occasionally a little humor.
I certainly don’t know everything, but I’m always willing to learn something new. And if something catches my attention, chances are I’ll have a few words to share about it.
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