The “Historical Documentaries: Preserving the Past for Future Generations” unit enriches students’ understanding of history. Students learn to understand their historical roots and develop historical perspectives by reconstructing the past through the study of a primary source. They locate veterans in the community, develop a survey to ascertain general information about the veteran's service to our country, and then use this survey as a catalyst to begin researching and developing specific questions for an in-depth interview of the veteran and his/her experiences. The interviews are filmed and become the foundation for creating historical photo documentaries that focus on the personal experiences of the individuals while incorporating the historical background of events in which the veterans participated. Meeting veterans and hearing of their experiences firsthand brings history alive and not only gives students an appreciation of the personal sacrifices of the men and women who serve our country, but also helps them recognize the importance of historical documentaries as an invaluable way to archive our nation’s history.