Joseph Patton, at home in Santa Monica, Calif., told StoryCorps last year that he was given an undesirable discharge for being friends with openly gay men in the military. Jud Esty-Kendall/StoryCorps hide caption
StoryCorps: Recording The Lives And Stories Of Everyday Americans StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate the lives of everyday Americans by listening to their stories.
StoryCorps
Sharing And Preserving The Stories Of Our Lives
At left, Yennie Neal-Achigbu (left) and Jamie Olivieri in 1998 and at right, in 2012. Jamie Olivieri hide caption
Through Thick And Thin, Best Friends Make Room For Laughter And Tears
Sharron Cohen (second from left) with her husband David Cohen, and son Nathan Cohen with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the steps of the Supreme Court building in 1999. Sharron Cohen hide caption
RBG Imparted This To Plaintiff In Gender Equality Case: 'It's All Right To Be A Hero'
David Smith (left) and Kenneth Felts in Denver in 2013, the year their friendship began. Felts told Smith that before he came out as gay this year, "I was secretly really envying you, to be able to be yourself." Courtesy of David Smith hide caption
'Everybody Has Their Own Mountains.' A Coming-Out Journey Made Easier With Friendship
The Muñoz family (from left: Jorge, Justin, Blanca and Luz) prepares meals from their kitchen in 2010. Jorge Muñoz hide caption
A Family Tradition Of Feeding Workers In Need: 'You Do Not Need To Be Rich'
Left: Crescenciana "Lola" Tan with grandson Kenneth and daughter Olivia at their home in San Jose, Calif., in 1990. Right: the family in Oakland, Calif., in 2016. Courtesy of Kenneth Tan hide caption
Anthony Fauci and his wife, Christine Grady, spoke for a StoryCorps interview in Maryland on Nov. 17. He says he'll miss seeing their daughters this Thanksgiving, but he's proud of their decision to not join them. Courtesy of Anthony Fauci hide caption
In Running, Work And Parenting, Fauci Paces Himself For The 'Marathon'
Army Maj. Ivan and Aileen Arreguin at their son's wedding in Sanford, N.C., in June. The Arreguins are stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. Courtesy of the Arreguin family hide caption
A U.S. Army Chaplain, Deployed In His Own Country, Honors Pandemic Victims
Scott Macaulay, left, told Loretta Saint-Louis last week during a StoryCorps conversation that he organizes an annual Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who, like him, doesn't want to spend the holiday alone. Courtesy of Scott Macaulay, Alanna Kouri and Loretta Saint-Louis hide caption
'Brighten The Corner Where You Are': Finding A New Way To Be Thankful In A Pandemic
Ellaraino, right, spoke about her late great-grandmother with her friend Baki AnNur at StoryCorps in Los Angeles, in 2011. StoryCorps hide caption
"I think in a lot of ways, we survived that deployment in Iraq by sharing humor with each other," said former Army Spc. Garett Reppenhagen, seen at home in Colorado Springs, Colo. Courtesy of Garett Reppenhagen hide caption
Cherie DeBrest, left, and daughter Naima are planning on working at the polls on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Courtesy of Naima DeBrest hide caption
A Mother And Daughter Join Together As Poll Workers 'To Make A Difference'
At left: Becky and Mike McKenney (right) visit VanSumeren while he was incarcerated. The couple are the parents of VanSumeren's former girlfriend, Jillian, who has also remained close to him. At right: The McKenneys join VanSumeren on the day of his swearing-in as a lawyer. Courtesy of Bob VanSumeren hide caption
A High School Dropout Finds Support On Road From Prison To Law School
Brian McConnell, right, spoke with his wife, Nora, during a StoryCorps interview in Atlanta in 2016, about his "calling": working with the Delta Honor Guard to greet the remains of a military service members killed in active duty. Morgan Feigal-Stickles/StoryCorps hide caption
'This Is My Way Of Serving.' How An Airline Worker Honors Fallen Military Members
Helen Merrill with her granddaughter, Elizabeth Hartley, in 2017. Courtesy of Andrea Hartley hide caption