Some of Harold Thune's experiences as a World War II fighter pilot are now part of the national Veterans History Project sponsored by the Library of Congress.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., interviewed his father, and he encourages others to make similar contributions.

"Father's Day, family reunions this summer and other gatherings provide an excellent opportunity for families to capture the history of their loved ones who served our great nation. Unfortunately, we lose part of our history every day, and I hope others will join me in capturing these pieces of history to share with family and contribute to this important collection," the senator said.

The Veterans History Project, part of the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center, features more than 60,000 stories and thousands of photographs of military veterans.

For more information about submitting material to the Veterans History Project, visit www.loc.gov/vets

Various portions of the Thune interview can be viewed at:

http://thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Services.VeteransHistoryProject