History Makers

Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” recalls the 1939 mob that burned her family’s home. Decades later, her 1,400-mile walk helped lead to Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday.

Agnes László Geva, 92, recalls surviving Auschwitz and a 400 km death march. Saved by her mother’s courage and her own fluency in German, she now shares her story—and her tattoo—as proof, urging us never to remain indifferent to injustice.

Historian Zonnie Gorman shares the legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers, including her father, Carl. These heroes used their native language to help secure every major Pacific battle. As Major Connor noted, without them, Iwo Jima would never have been taken.

Samuel Sandoval, one of the last original Navajo Code Talkers, recalls enlisting in the Marines at 18 to help create an unbreakable code. Using their sacred, unwritten language, he and his brothers-in-arms forged a secret weapon that never fell to the enemy.

Explore rare WWII dogfight footage and personal moments captured by Albert Fagler’s grandfather, an Army Air Corps photographer, in his rediscovered film reels.

David Keran's grandfather was an OSS agent working with the French Resistance during WWII and left behind films of his experiences.

Albert Fagler's grandfather was an Army Air Corps photographer during WWII and left behind film reels.