U.S. Sens. Mike Johanns and Deb Fischer of Nebraska have started a joint project to help preserve the stories of Nebraska veterans.

Johanns and Fischer announced on Monday that the project is an effort to honor Nebraska’s veterans by recording and preserving their stories for future generations. Johanns’ and Fischer’s staff will conduct interviews for the Veterans History Project (VHP) and technicians with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative will also be on hand to conduct audio interviews for their archives.

Johanns said the past Fourth of July holiday is a reminder that this country celebrates freedom and independence due to the efforts and sacrifices made by the members of the nation’s armed forces.

“One of the best ways to honor them is by preserving their firsthand accounts of heroism, courage and bravery so future generations can hear — not just read in a textbook — the great price paid for the liberties we often take for granted today,” Johanns said.

Fischer said as fewer and fewer members of “The Greatest Generation” remain, it is more important than ever to record the “histories of our veterans.”

“Their recollections illuminate both their personal heroism and the high cost of war,” she said. “It is my hope that this effort to preserve their stories will enable us and future generations to honor their legacy in the years to come.”

The interviews will take place Tuesday through Saturday at Nebraska Educational Telecommunications studios in Lincoln.

The VHP interviews will be housed at the Library of Congress, along with more than 68,000 recorded stories and thousands more photographs currently in the collection. Johanns previously interviewed Nebraska WWII veteran Lt. Col. (ret) Paul Adams of Lincoln as part of the VHP effort. The complete interview and more information on participating in VHP can be found at www.johanns.senate.gov/public/?pVets.

To learn more about StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative, which collects and shares stories from veterans, service members, and military families, visit their website at storycorps.org/military-voices.