The Central Pennsylvania World War II Roundtable will meet on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 433 E. Main St., Hummelstown. Gettysburg College history professor Michael Birkner will speak about the personal stories shared in nearly 250 oral histories by World War II veterans.

Birkner's book, "Democracy's Shield: Voices of WWII," published in 2022, brings context to a collection of oral histories that is in the custody of the Musselman Library at Gettysburg College. These interviews and recordings include recollections of the whispers of war in the late 1930s; race and gender in uniform; combat experiences via land, sea and air; witnessing the death camps; providing humanitarian aid; and becoming peacekeepers.

Birkner, a Gettysburg faculty member since 1989, holds a doctorate. from the University of Virginia, served as president of the Pennsylvania Historical Association from 2014 to 2016 and is nationally recognized for his work on Dwight Eisenhower's generalship and presidency.

The meeting is open to the public, and no registration is required. It will also be livestreamed on YouTube on the "Central Pennsylvania World War II Roundtable" channel. For additional information, visit http://www.centralpaww2roundtable.org.