At the tender age of 18, Luke Basso has taken on a mission of paramount importance: preserving the narratives of American veterans through his YouTube channel, "Filmperia."
His endeavor aims to immortalize the experiences of those who served in the U.S. military, thereby ensuring their legacies are passed down to future generations.
Filmperia primarily focuses on the accounts of U.S. veterans, particularly survivors of World War II. To date, Basso has conducted over 50 interviews, both in-person and via Zoom, and has produced two mini-documentaries.
In a conversation with American Military News, Basso articulated his objective: to preserve all firsthand accounts of our veterans from WWII to the present day. He underscored the urgency of documenting the experiences of World War II and Korean War veterans, given their dwindling numbers, with the majority now around the age of 100.
Our veterans have gone above and beyond for our country, and their stories deserve to be recognized, Basso asserted. Many people dont know what our veterans truly went through for our country.
Through his interactions with U.S. veterans, Basso has deepened his understanding of military and political history. By attentively listening to their stories and empathizing with their perspectives, he has gained a "different perspective" on historical events.
Our veterans were living in the moment during the battle, not knowing the outcome, he noted. Many veterans Ive met dont give themselves enough credit and dont see themselves as heroes either.
When asked about the significance of recording veteran interviews and archiving them on YouTube, Basso stressed the importance of raising public awareness and appreciation for U.S. veterans.
Allowing them to be on my channel is essential to making sure their stories are not forgotten, he stated. Many veterans have kept their experiences to themselves for decades until deciding to share them. Many have felt relieved afterward after telling their story.
Looking ahead, Basso plans to broaden the scope of his channel by featuring testimonies from other historical witnesses. Over the next year, he intends to produce another mini-documentary. His ultimate aspiration, he shared with American Military News, is to travel and interview as many historical witnesses and veterans as possible.
Basso's journey began with interviewing veterans and individuals in his local area. Recently, he has expanded his reach, conducting Zoom interviews with people from across the country. He observed that many veterans find a sense of healing after sharing stories that have remained private for decades.
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