For a group of DMACC Film & Media Production students, an early November assignment offered a unique opportunity to help preserve the stories of Iowa veterans.
On Nov. 6, students from the Design, Media, and the Arts Pathway joined the ninth annual Veterans History Project event hosted by the office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley at American Legion Post 403 in Van Meter. Working alongside event organizers, students conducted and filmed interviews with Iowa veterans, capturing firsthand accounts of military service, sacrifice and life after returning home.
The recordings will be submitted for inclusion in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, a national effort to collect and preserve the experiences of U.S. military veterans for future generations.
One of the veterans interviewed was retired Iowa Army National Guard Colonel who began his military career at age 17. Todd Jacobus, Commandment, Iowa Veteran's Affairs, recounted parts of his journey over more than three decades of service, when he held numerous leadership assignments, including commanding the 224th Engineer Battalion during its 2005 deployment to Iraq.
Jacobus recalled — and eoquently described with incredible detail — the difficutlty realities of that deployment, such as the loss of five soldiers under his command (whose names, ranking, and hometown he could recite). His stories emphasized the value of the lasting relationships he maintains with those who served alongside him, though some are bittersweet — like knowing the now-adult daughter of a young soldier who never got to meet her.
When asked what message he hoped future generations would take away from his story, Jacobus spoke about the importance of service beyond military uniform.
“I'm a big believer in service,” Jacobus said.
“Along with those rights come the responsibilities of citizenship," he added, pointing to the many ways people can contribute to their communities, such as voting in the recent midterm elections.
For students, capturing stories like these brought a human dimension to the technical and creative skills they are developing in the classroom, said Film & Media Production Professor and Program Chair Miguel Tarango.
Tarango said the opportunity came through the strong reputation DMACC has built and its commitment to providing students with meaningful, real-world learning experiences.
"The invitation from Senator Grassley’s office reflects the trust placed in DMACC and our ability to deliver professional-quality work while creating valuable educational opportunities for students," Tarango said. DMACC also provided the video equipment for the project.
For Film & Media Production students, the day in Van Meter was a unique client-based production experience that required them to adapt to the needs and expectations of an external partner while working in a professional environment. It's not often a class project is archived in the Library of Congress, a time capsule for future generations.
"Beyond the technical skills involved, students had the privilege of helping celebrate and preserve the very human stories of service, sacrifice, and resilience shared by these veterans," Tarango said.