Exciting News Announced in our Fall Newsletter! | | |
Connecting Students with VeteransTM
to Honor Veterans, Preserve America's Heritage, and Develop Future Leaders
| | September 28, 2026: Volume 16, Issue 1 | | Daughters of the American Revolution
Partner with Imprints of Honor® in 2-Year Project
Imprints of Honor® is proud to announce a two-year project with the Arizona State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. This project supports outreach and engagement initiatives for our after-school program, helps increase student and veteran participation, and expands Imprints of Honor’s Arizona impact. The Arizona State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution has more than 45 chapters and 3,000 members statewide.
Dedicated DAR members are introducing our program to prospective schools in efforts to create IOH chapters at new schools across Arizona. The DAR members will fundraise to support start-up costs and are available to volunteer with the new chapter and/or teacher, helping to connect students with veterans in their community and support program activities such as interviewing, editing, and organizing participation in civic and veteran recognition events.
“Every veteran has a story worth preserving,” Daughters of the American Revolution Arizona State Regent Katie Paulsen said. “Through Imprints of Honor, we can connect generations, honor service, and ensure these important stories are saved for the future.”
“As we continue to build our program, we are always appreciative of the support by organizations in our community who are willing to support veterans and students,” said Imprints of Honor Executive Director Michelle DiMuro. “We are grateful to be selected by the Arizona State Regent for this two-year venture to expand our outreach across the state.”
| |
Timothy T. Day Foundation Invests in our Mission
Increasing Engagement with Marine Veterans
Imprints of Honor® is proud to announce a $100,000 contribution from the Timothy T. Day Foundation.
“The Marine Corps profoundly influenced my life and shaped the values of leadership, discipline, and service that have guided me throughout my career,” said Founder of Timothy T. Day Foundation, Timothy T. Day. “Imprints of Honor gives young people the unique opportunity to learn directly from our veterans while ensuring their stories and experiences are preserved for future generations. I am proud to support a program that honors those who have served while helping inspire and develop tomorrow’s leaders.”
The Timothy T. Day Foundation funding supports program growth and new school participation. The funding also helps Imprints of Honor increase engagement with Marine veterans, who are currently underrepresented in the program. Marine Corps veterans comprise 13% of IOH’s 3,400 interviewed veterans, and only 20 Marines are on the interest list to be interviewed by students. The goal is to have 150 Marine veterans participate during this school year. Veterans from all service branches are encouraged to learn more about the process and sign up to be interviewed.
Day, a Marine Corps veteran, was included in the 2013 edition of Since You Asked® and shared in his interview that his military experience had a “profound influence on his core values, personal traits, and character,” instilling an appreciation for strong leadership, excellence, and mental toughness.
“Imprints of Honor aligns closely with the values that the Timothy T. Day Foundation stands by every day,” said Imprints of Honor Executive Director Michelle DiMuro. “We are grateful to be selected for funding and appreciate their trust and investment in our mission.”
| | |
Show your spirit and support for Imprints of Honor® by purchasing a t-shirt, polo shirt, and/or fleece jacket. Orders close October 10 so you can have your swag in time for Veterans Day.
T-shirts are unisex polo shirts and jackets are available in Ladies and Men's cuts.
- $18 - Crew Neck T-shirt
- $33 - $36 Polo Shirt
- $40 - $45 Fleece Jacket
| | | |
Welcome Back to School!
Welcome back to school, teachers and students! Students, we hope this year brings you new opportunities and growth as you learn from your veterans. Teachers, we are grateful for your dedication and skills in leading your students to preserve veteran legacies. Thank you for championing our mission in your schools and communities. We are excited to welcome our new school chapters:
- Dishchii’bikoh High School
- Fountain Hills High School
- Heritage Academy Mesa
- Rancho Solano Preparatory School
- Saguaro High School
- Westar Elementary (7-8 Grade Students)
- Valentine Elementary (7-8 Grade Students)
We wish all our chapters a fulfilling and successful year ahead!
| Chapters Recognize the 25th Anniversary of 9-11 | |
Cooley Middle 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony
By Troy Nelson, Cooley Middle School Chapter Advisor
To honor the 2,977 lives lost in the attacks on 9/11, Cooley Middle School students created a garden of 2,977 American flags. The commemoration ceremony began with the raising of the American flag to half-staff as bagpipes played. Then, the advanced choir class sang the National Anthem. I was the first speaker, reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the event and honoring the victims and first responders. The club officers then presented short summaries about first responders who perished on 9/11. As each student came up, they took one of the flags out of the garden and placed it in a cup on the podium. They each had a photo of their person held up by another club member. Once all six told their stories, I then came back to the podium and talked about how each of these six flags at the podium represented those six lives. I also brought to the audience's attention that there were still 2,971 stories remaining in the garden. We ended the ceremony with the song “Oh Danny Boy,” played by the bagpipes.
| |
Payson Chapter 9/11 Assembly
By Devyn Thomas, Payson Chapter Student
Every year we remember a day in history that shaped the future in many ways. Trying to encapsulate the emotions and the aftermath is hard, but it must be done. We spent days working on a presentation that would properly commemorate the event. We had eleven total speakers. From our Imprints of Honor® Chapter, we had Chapter Advisor Coach Manna and students Jordan, Gio, Kayla, Gunner, and Conner. We also had a wide variety of guest speakers, ranging from those who served in the military to first responders. These speakers were Army veteran Carol Munoz, Navy veteran Tim Deegan, Retired Police Chief Rodney Huff, Payson Fire and Police Chief David Staub, and crisis responder Randy Roberts. Overall, the event had the intended effect, explaining and bringing light to 9/11, while capturing the attention of the school. Several students and administrators said this was the best 9/11 assembly we have had in a long time.
| |
St. Joseph Academy 9/11 Commemoration
By Natalie Speidel, Chapter Vice President
On Friday, September 11, the St. Joseph Academy Chapter of Imprints of Honor® held an assembly as a reminder of that fateful day 25 years ago. Almost 3,000 died, and millions suffered because of it. Colonel Benito Rodriguez graciously took time out of his day to speak to everyone there about how faith helped people survive. In hard times especially, we need to be strong in our faith and fight against evil. Two items were passed around during the presentation so students could share in something tangible: a piece of stone from the Pentagon and a piece of a metal beam of the World Trade Center. At the conclusion, Colonel Rodriguez was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a Til Valhalla shirt. He generously presented challenge coins to all the students who participated in the assembly.
| | |
Sunrise Mountain Chapter Advisor D.J. Salch
selected for the Friends of the National World War II
Memorial Summer Teachers Conference
| | |
Congratulations to Sunrise Mountain Chapter Advisor D.J. Salch, who was selected for the Friends of the National World War II Memorial Summer Teachers Conference as one of 29 educators from 22 different states, ranging from kindergarten teachers to university professors. The conference featured presentations by educators and other experts in the area of WWII history, discussions with WWII veterans and war orphans, and a remembrance ceremony. The photo above shows Mr. Salch (right) with CSM Jeff Mann (U.S. Army, Ret.) laying a ceremonial wreath adjacent to the WWII Memorial at the conclusion of the conference.
| |
Veterans Continue to Share Their Service Stories
as School and Community Speakers
| |
In the month of September, Imprints of Honor® veterans were invited by three community leaders to share their stories of service. In partnership with the RED Friday Patriot Group, Bob Jenkins shared his account of being in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11th and surviving the attack that changed our country forever.
| |
David Allwine joined the RED Friday Patriot Group as the POW/MIA Day speaker on Friday September 18th. David shared his story of resilience during the Vietnam War, when he endured 755 days as a prisoner in both Cambodian and Vietnamese camps. Margy Bons shared her story with the group as a Gold Star mother for Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day on Friday, September 25th.
| |
Sagewood Independent Living hosted our Board President, Eric Spencer, on Friday September 11th. Eric shared with the community the impact that the events of 9/11 had on him and his decision to enlist as an infantry officer.
| |
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church and School hosted Jim Kelsey at their school assembly for students in grades 5 through 8 on Thursday, September 24th. Students had the opportunity to listen to Jim Kelsey’s service story, ask questions, and left excited to participate in their school’s Imprints of Honor® chapter.
| |
We appreciate the support of our community partners for our Veteran Speaker Program, and the commitment from our veteran speakers.
If you are interested in bringing a veteran speaker to your company or community and would like to learn more, you can download the Veteran Speaker Flyer and/or email Karla Gonzalez, Special Event Manager.
| | Your Legacy May Hold More Possibilities Than You Think | |
Most of us think about giving in terms of what we can spare right now—what the budget allows this year, or what we can give today.
But there is another kind of gift that works differently.
A planned gift is one you arrange now and complete later, often through your will or by naming a nonprofit as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy. It costs nothing today and doesn’t change how you live.
You don't have to be wealthy. A home, retirement account, or other asset can become a meaningful gift to an organization you care about.
An annual gift helps meet a need today. A planned gift can help shape what an organization is able to do for years to come.
At Imprints of Honor®, that means giving students the chance to sit with veterans and hear history firsthand. They take away more than a story. They see empathy, responsibility, and service beyond self in the lives of those who served. Those lessons stay with them long after the conversation ends.
The mechanics can be simpler than most people expect: a sentence in your will or a beneficiary designation can do it.
If you've already made this kind of arrangement, please tell us by contacting Vicki Stouffer, Development Director. We'd like the chance to thank you.
Adapted from PlannedGiving.com, working with nonprofit organizations on planned giving since 1998.
| |
Two stories. Two generations. One special evening.
This year’s Saluting Stories of Service Gala will shine a light on two remarkable individuals whose stories have been part of Since You Asked® from the beginning.
Save the date so we can honor legacy and inspire the future together. More to come in December.
| Join our Students at Wreaths Across America | |
Wreaths Across America will take place at 10 a.m. on December 19, 2026. Save the date on your calendar to join us at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
We invite you to purchase a $17 Wreath through Imprints of Honor® at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/AZ0303P to help our students pay tribute to those who came before them in service to our country.
Your sponsorship will help ensure that a veteran's grave is remembered with a wreath during the holiday season, while also supporting the next generation. Through this special partnership, Wreaths Across America will donate $5 from every sponsored wreath back to Imprints of Honor to support our scholarship program. Together, we can honor the past, inspire our future, and ensure that the lessons of service, sacrifice, and citizenship live on for generations to come.
|
Celebrate America250 with our Since You Asked® eBook
Only $9.99!
| |
This powerful collection of 100 specially selected stories pays homage to our nation’s brave men and women.
Through the pages of this book, readers embark on a journey through history, encountering the firsthand accounts of those who served from World War II to modern-day conflicts. From the battlefields to the home front, these narratives offer profound insights into the realities of war and its lasting impact on individuals and communities.
Filled with emotion, wisdom, and gratitude, this book is a fitting tribute to the heroes who have defended freedom and upheld the values of courage and sacrifice.
|
|
When you make a donation to Imprints of Honor®, you may be able to double your impact with an employer match. Many corporations match donations and volunteer hours from employees, their spouses, and even retirees! Visit www.ImprintsOfHonor.org/matching-gifts or click on the image below to open a search tool to see if your employer offers matching support.
Thank you!
| Sharing our Program with Educators | |
August and September were great opportunities to get out in the community as Imprints of Honor® staff attended four conferences all across the Valley!
- From August 18-21, Special Events Manager Karla Gonzalez attended the League of Arizona Cities and Towns - Youth Program Conference where she engaged with youth leaders from all over Arizona!
- On September 11th and 12th, Program Coordinator Sarah Johnson presented and exhibited at the Arizona English Teachers Association (AETA) conference hosted at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The conference theme this year was The Stories that Shape Us, which aligned perfectly with our program. Sarah was able to share program details with English teachers and show how students who participate in the program are preserving history, becoming published authors, and using storytelling to bridge the gap between generations.
- On September 12th, Sr. Program Coordinator Hannah Nichols-Bittle exhibited at the Arizona Council for History Education (ACHE) conference at the ASU Chandler Innovation Center. It was a wonderful day connecting with history teachers and educators from all over the state!
- On September 19th, Hannah and Sarah attended the Arizona Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) Summit. They spoke to hundreds of middle grade teachers and educators from all over Arizona about Imprints of Honor and the benefits of our program for middle school students.
| | |
Thank you for supporting our mission! We are grateful for your partnership
and belief in honoring veterans and preserving their legacy, enriching education, and building the character of our next generation.
| | | | We’re grateful for a grant from the Sundt Foundation to connect students with veterans, preserve firsthand accounts of military service, build leadership and character, and deepen their understanding of service and sacrifice. | | We’re grateful for a grant from Tee It Up for the Troops to preserve veterans' service stories and give veterans an opportunity to be recognized and honored for their service and sacrifice. | | | | | We’re grateful for the support from the Timothy T. Day Foundation to create more opportunities for students to learn from and honor Marine veterans while building leadership, character, and a commitment to excellence. | | |
As writers and archivists, we always hope the work we put into creating stories and videos of our veterans will live on beyond us to be part of our American story. It was an affirmation of that effort to hear from Navy veteran Curt Vaughan that national author Marcus Brotherton listed our video submission to the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project as a big help in writing his book A Bright and Blinding Sun about World War II veteran Joseph Quitman Johnson.
Student Nicole Liebgold and I interviewed Joe in 2007 for our 2008 volume of Since You Asked®. Joe snuck into the Army at the age of 14 to find himself a POW in the Philippines and a "guest" on two Japanese hell ships until he came home from a mine camp 30 miles from Nagasaki at war's end. He was 19. He wrote his own story, Baby of Bataan, about that experience.
Marcus shared with me that he had access to Joe’s unpublished letters, journal entries, poems, and emails that his family preserved but that Joe passed away before he wrote his book. Thankfully, he could hear Joe’s voice through our archived video.
We recently heard that Imprints of Honor’s submissions to Library of Congress make up 7% of their overall collection of over 120,000 veteran collections. We are encouraged that even more Americans will get to hear their stories of service.
Barbara Hatch, Imprints of Honor® Founder
| | |
Imprints of Honor® remembers the beloved veterans
we have lost, their spouses, and our supporters. Your
stories live on in our memories, our books, and our hearts.
| |
| |
IN MEMORY OF
Judith Beischel
George Cross
Glenn Goins
Donald Seago
| | | | |
Thank you to the following individuals
for their loving tributes and contributions
We value the thoughtful donations contributed by friends and family who honor or memorialize important people in their lives while making an impact on our mission.
| | |
In Honor of John T Kukowski, Sr. (WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Cold War Veteran)
John Kukowski
| |  | |
In Memory of Tim Ganahl
Mr. John Newell
| | |
Board Officers
Eric Spencer, President
Kelly Cooper, Vice President
Justin Layman, Treasurer
Kelly Mills, Secretary
Board Directors
Brad Gronek
Alfredo Luna
Javier Rodríguez
Eugene Wikle
Staff
Michelle DiMuro
Wendi Epps
Karla Gonzalez
Barbara Hatch
Sarah Johnson
Hannah Nichols
Melissa Severson
Vicki Stouffer
| | |
Partner, Snell & Wilmer, LLP, Army Veteran
Founder, Cooper Legacy Financial, Marine Veteran
Founder and Managing Partner, Arouet Capital, Army Veteran
Director of Community Relations, TriWest Healthcare Alliance
Founder and CEO, Igility Solutions
District Senior Manager, Wells Fargo, Army Veteran
IT Team Lead, Salt River Project, Marine Veteran
Special Projects and Policy Manager, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
Executive Director
Graphic Design & Marketing Communications Specialist
Special Event Manager
Founder and Volunteer
Program Coordinator
Sr. Program Coordinator
Office Administrator
Development Director
| | |
Since You Asked®, Imprints of Honor® and the Imprints of Honor logos
are registered trademarks of Imprints of Honor. All rights reserved.
| | | | |
