In 1944, Willie Belle Irvin went to war.

Irvin was the first Black woman from Moultrie to join the Army. She served in the Women’s Army Corps as part of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which was recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal last year.

She served less than two years and left the service in March 1946. She married John Alvin Partridge, had children and worked as a dietician in Atlanta. She died in 1990.

Growing up, Brenda Partridge Brown — Willie Belle Irvin Partridge’s daughter — listened to her mother’s stories. “My mother didn’t share a lot with us (about the war),” Brown said. “She shared what she wanted to share.”

Over time the pieces came together, and it made a wonderful story that Brown shared with the Museum of Colquitt County History on Friday. (Read more about Irvin’s story on today’s front page.)

The lessons for younger folk is they need to listen to their elders’ stories, but the lesson for the elders is they need to share them. What you have done matters — maybe to the world, maybe to the country, or maybe just to your family, but it matters. The people affected by your actions and experiences should know about them.

One opportunity to share your stories is the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress. Each year, the John Benning Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, based in Moultrie, interviews veterans for this project.

“Interviews are taped and submitted to the Library of Congress,” Regent Nancy Coleman told The Observer by email Monday. “We hope to do some interviews this fall.”

Veterans interested in preserving their stories can email MoultrieDAR@gmail.com.

Veterans and others may also be interested in a project by the Arts Center of Moultrie. “Beyond the Book: A Lived Experience Library” will set the stage for conversations about tough topics. Learn more in Connie Fritz’s article on Page 7A. To see the “human library” in action, attend the event at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Arts Center.

History is made of thousands of stories — stories of people like Willie Belle Irvin and stories of people just like you. Don’t miss the chance to share them.