My name is Courtney Lynch, and I recently graduated from Temple University. This project originally started as just an assignment for a documentary class. However, the more people I found myself talking to the more I became passionate about continued this even after I graduated in May. 

​

The purpose of this project is to highlight the lives of service-members from all branches and ages. I chose this as my topic because there are so many people that we interact with on a daily basis who are serving or have served, yet we don't know this. All of the service-members have one part of their story in common, that they serve(d) in the United States Armed Forces, yet each person has a different journey and I hope to document this. 

 

The goal of the documentary is to not only capture the lives of the service-members but also educate others on what they lived through in order to selflessly protect our country. This will also include those who have not seen combat. 

 

Each service-member will tell their own story. At any time they may request to stop sharing for any reason. Although these are interviews, the conversation is led by each individual. Allowing the responses to be as brief or as detailed as they wish. In these instances, I will be more of a listener rather than the interviewer. 

​

Since there is no set location for the interview, the participants are given the opportunity to choose the location. A place that is convenient for them and they feel comfortable discussing their story. 

 

There will be a video created to share the participant's stories. Both of which I will offer copies of to participants upon completion of the project. Being in both the video recording and photograph book is not required but is certainly welcomed. I will be recording and/or photographing the participants. 

 

Some of the questions in conversation may include:

• Why did you join the Armed Forces?

• What was the culture of your branch like?

• How has serving in the Armed Forces shaped the person you are today?

• If a Veteran, how was the transition back into civilian life?

 

If you are not in the Greater Philadelphia area and we are not able to meet in person due to distance, contact me and we can set up a time to talk over the phone or Skype/Zoom/FaceTime. 

​

Thank you for your interest in this project, and thank you for your service!

​