FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2024
PHOENIX – Recognized by the Arizona Department of Education as a Character and Civic Education program, the organization formerly known as Veterans Heritage Project, announced today that it will change its name to Imprints of Honor. Founded in 2004 and established as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit in 2009, Imprints of Honor’s mission is to connect students with veterans to honor veterans, preserve America’s heritage, and develop future leaders.
“Our mission begins with veterans and lives on in students,” said Michelle DiMuro, Imprints of Honor Executive Director. “The new name, Imprints of Honor, helps balance our mission of connecting students with veterans, and strengthens the bond to character and civic education, which is important for our ability to grow as an educational enrichment program.”
Imprints of Honor recognizes the service of U.S. veterans. Students in seventh grade through college have one-on-one interviews with veterans to collect their stories ensuring they are not lost to future generations. Each veteran story is recorded and preserved in the Library of Congress, written for the student publication, Since You Asked, and celebrated at free community book receptions. Veterans can receive healing through sharing their narratives, as many of them are telling these stories for the first time. By offering a means to enhance patriotism and civic education, Imprints of Honor strengthens families and community relationships. Veterans imprint lifelong character on students inspiring them to live with honor and service for others.
During 2023-24, the chapter program had 30 school partners, 205 student participants, 244 veterans who had their legacies preserved, awarded 10 scholarships to students and participated in 41 civic engagement activities. Since founding in 2004, there have been 20 published volumes of veteran stories, 2,927 veteran interviews, 3,101-chapter students and 59,748 students impacted through veteran presentations. Additionally, there are currently pilot programs in Tennessee and Florida.
Imprints of Honor began when Arizona history teacher Barbara Hatch wrote to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, asking for World War II veterans to address her high school student’s question, “Is Saving Private Ryan real?” A member of the Fountain Hills VFW organized a group of WWII veterans called Veterans in the Classroom to speak to Ms. Hatch’s students. Over the years she continued to bring veterans into the classroom. Interested in funding programs that documented Arizona’s History, Arizona’s Salt River Project (SRP), requested grant proposals, one of which led to the development of the after-school program.
“We are excited to strengthen our community bonds and continue to preserve our veterans’ history under our new name, Imprints of Honor,” said Hatch. “For 20 years we have provided recognition for our veterans, while instilling character in our next generation and we look forward to our future.”
About Imprints of Honor
Founded in 2004 and established as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit in 2009, Imprints of Honor's mission is to connect students with veterans to honor veterans, preserve America’s heritage, and develop feature leaders. The program is recognized by the Arizona Department of Education as a Character Education program and is approved in all categories for the Seal of Civics Literacy. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Veterans Hall of Fame Society, Arizona Humanities, and Arizona Council for the Social Studies are among many organizations who have awarded the program and its founder for their impact.
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