National history day (NHD) will identify 50 teachers who teach within 90 miles of an NCA cemetery or NCA-funded site to each select two veterans who served in the U.S. Marine corps during world war II

Funder: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration

Program: Veterans Legacy Grants Program (CFDA 64.204)

Award Date: September 1, 2025

Project Completion Date: August 31, 2026

Total Funding: $361,721

National History Day Inc. will develop an educational initiative connecting secondary students with World War II (WWII) Marine Corps veterans' histories and commemoration. The organization will identify 50 teachers operating within 90 miles of National Cemetery Administration (NCA) cemeteries or NCA-funded sites, with each teacher selecting two WWII Marine Corps veterans for student research. Students will conduct biographical research and develop written profiles for publication on the VA's Veterans Legacy Memorial site. The project culminates with student visits to veterans' grave sites where participants will deliver eulogies based on their research findings. Over the 10-year projection period, the program is estimated to reach more than 62,000 students through the 50 participating teachers.

This project aligns with the Veterans Legacy Grants Program's objective of producing K-12 educational materials that teach about veterans' histories while fostering community engagement and cemetery-based learning experiences. The award supports the development of curriculum-integrated veteran biographical content and direct student engagement with local commemoration activities, connecting young learners with significant military service narratives through structured historical research and analysis.

These teachers will then guide students to research and write biographical profiles for publication on the VA's veterans legacy memorial site (VLM). Student projects will conclude with visits to each veteran s grave site, where they will give eulogies based on what they learned about their lives. The program estimates that the 50 teachers selected for this program will reach over 62,000 students in ten years.