A number of PBS affiliates across the USA, inspired by the release of Ken Burns' The War, are producing mini-documentaries about their own local war stories and encouraging high school and college students to collect oral histories.

The materials they gather are being sent to the Veterans History Project, which was launched in 2000 by the Library of Congress to collect oral histories and original wartime diaries, letters and photographs from U.S. veterans of all wars that are sent in by volunteers.

Collecting World War II stories is increasingly urgent. More than 1,000 of the war's veterans die every day. In many cases, their stories die with them, which is why it is so important to record their memories now, says Bob Patrick, director of the Veterans History Project.

•The PBS affiliate in Norfolk, Va., WHRO, partnered with Old Dominion University. Classes interviewed veterans and produced video vignettes that are being aired on the station.