National History Day is excited to announce an opportunity for teachers to engage with National History Day’s Silent Heroes professional development program in the 2026/2027 academic year, Silent Heroes: Untold Stories of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard in World War II.
Apply for an opportunity to engage students (minimum of two, maximum of one class) in a special project to research and profile the experiences of two U.S. Navy or Coast Guard Veterans of World War II. Over the course of nine months, student-teacher teams will research the lives of two individuals who served in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard during World War II, came home, and continued to serve their community, and are currently buried or memorialized in a U.S. National Cemetery or State Veterans Cemetery. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Veterans Legacy Program, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
In fall 2026, each student-teacher team will work collaboratively to identify two Veterans and research their lives, military service, and contributions to their communities. In spring 2027, student-teacher teams will visit their local national cemetery to honor their Veterans and read eulogies at their graves. Participants will create profiles for these individuals that will be cross-listed on NHD’s Silent Heroes website and the Veterans Legacy Memorial. The NHD team will create video eulogies to add to these profiles. See a sample NHD-produced video eulogy here. To be eligible for this opportunity, the school must be located within 90 miles of a U.S. National Cemetery or State Veterans Cemetery that is currently open to burials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply?
Teachers and librarians who work with students in grades 6-12. Homeschool educators are also eligible to apply, provided they can work with at least two students in grades 6-12 on this project. To be eligible for this opportunity, the applicants’ school must be located within 90 miles of a U.S. National Cemetery that is currently open to burials.
How many teachers will be selected?
NHD has funding to support 50 teachers to participate in this program. We seek to identify teachers across a broad geographic area and connect with as many cemeteries as possible.
Is there a teacher stipend?
Yes. Selected teachers will receive both a $1,000 stipend for their work on the project and a $400 budget (to cover transportation or associated expenses) to take students to visit their local cemetery.
Can teachers earn professional development hours or graduate credit?
Yes. Teachers can earn 90 professional development hours from National History Day for participating in this program. Teachers may opt to receive three graduate extension credits from the University of San Diego at a modest cost (to be deducted from the first part of their stipend if they choose this option).
What are the expectations of participants?
Participating student-teacher teams need to complete four graphic organizers to organize their research into the profile’s main sections (early life, home front, military experience, and Veteran experience). At four points throughout the academic year, students and teachers will join a live webinar with military historian Dr. Christopher Hamner (a video option is available for those who cannot attend live). Student-teacher teams will prepare a eulogy to deliver at the graves of their Veterans during their spring 2027 visit. Click here to access a DRAFT academic schedule. Teachers will manage their student teams and maintain contact with project staff throughout the year.
What does a Silent Hero profile look like?
Here are some profiles from last year’s cohort of Untold Stories (last year we focused on the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II): Sergeant Isom “Ike” Alto Rigell, Major Samuel Lynn Hynes, Jr., Sergeant Maria Consuelo Espinosa Pendergast, Corporal LeRoy Willie Cason, and Corporal William Pennington Hornsby.
Does my school need to approve participation?
Yes. Selected teachers will receive a contract that must be signed by a school official to allow student participation.
What is a student-teacher team?
Teams are composed of a teacher and at least two students (up to an entire class). Teachers will work with their students to complete the tasks. To participate in the program, students will need to submit permission forms, and their names will be credited (with teacher approval) in the final profile.
Which students can participate?
Teachers will identify students (a minimum of two students, a maximum of one class) to participate in this program. Students may work with the teacher in an academic or extracurricular setting. To participate in the live webinar programming and receive authorship credit on the profile, all students must submit student permission forms.
What are the National Cemeteries?
The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries are the cemeteries maintained by the National Cemetery Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. You can see the list of cemeteries and their locations here.
How do I know if my school is eligible?
Go to cem.va.gov/find-cemetery/ and scroll down to the “list view for cemeteries.” Select your state or territory. Look at cemeteries that accept burials (those that are not accepting interments are marked as “closed”). National Cemeteries AND VA Grant-Funded Cemeteries (sometimes referred to as state veterans cemeteries) are eligible. Compare the locations of these cemeteries with your school’s location, ensuring each cemetery is within 90 miles of your school.
Do you have other questions?
Email NHDSilentHeroes@nhd.org.
