StoryCorps

Conchetta Brown, 66, has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, and she uses oxygen to help her breath. She talks to her daughter Nidera about looking ahead to life after death.

"The more people are talking to one another, building relationships and putting the time in, we'll be able to get back on track—I'm still hopeful."

In this week's StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative, Nazim Abdul Karriem reflects on his time as a young Black soldier in World War II.

Marite Sanchez was one of the few people picked out of thousands to help decorate the White House. She knew right away who she'd bring with her: Hugo, her husband. They tell the story of how they met.

Actor and activist Sacheen Littlefeather, best known for declining Marlon Brando's 1973 Oscar to protest Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans, has died at the age of 75.

In the 1970s, John Singer left the Army and changed his name to Faygele Ben-Miriam. Two friends — Patrick Haggerty and Ronni Gilboa — remember the gay rights activist who died in 2000.

Nelva Williamson, a Houston public school history teacher, didn't think she'd end up in the classroom — even though her mom was a teacher. She tells her son about how her love of learning began.

Long before Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday, Sidney Cooper had been celebrating the hallowed day for decades. Lana Cooper-Jones and Marla Cooper remember their father who died in 2001.

When Jade Rone was placed in Stacia Parker's care, she kept her feelings to herself: "I just felt like I didn't matter." But Parker had different expectations for her.

At StoryCorps, Mike Rudulph and Neil Rafferty remember falling in love, joining the Marine Corps and being deployed overseas.