Clay himself grew up in a military family stationed abroad, spending most of his childhood growing up in Germany, witnessing the impacts of the Cold War and the fight against Communism first hand. These experiences would form a lasting impact on his perspectives and world view.

A retired U.S. Army officer, his military service took him to Germany, South Korea and Iraq on assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army 5th Corps and U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He is a 1994 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and holds a Masters and PhD in History from Duke University. 

Most recently, he served as Professor of Military History at the University of Washington in Seattle and as an Assistant Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Our conversation today highlights the importance of interactive military history, and in this respect the Virginia War Memorial is a national standard bearer in its combination of memorial and active programming. Through education and storytelling, the memorial serves as a bridge between civilians and veterans.

Our thanks to Dr. Clay for joining us today, sharing his story and the mission of the VWM. No matter where you live in Virginia, or if you are visiting our state, know that this memorial caters to everyone, is for everyone, and encourages exploration of this living tribute to sacrifice.

"It wasn't just about seeing names on a wall. It became about understanding the history of those names and stories. To honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, and learn about service to the country." - Dr. Clay Mountcastle

Links and Resources From This Episode

www.vawarmemorial.org 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clay-mountcastle/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Virginia War Memorial
02:55 Growing Up in a Military Family
09:03 The Impact of Military Life on Personal Development
15:01 The Importance of History and Military Heritage
29:44 The Virginia War Memorial: Honoring Sacrifice
37:52 The Power of Storytelling: Engaging Generations
40:59 The Impact of the Virginia War Memorial
43:38 Preserving History: Capturing Veterans' Stories
46:57 How to Support the Virginia War Memorial

If we can ever be of help to you, give us a call at 1-877-VETS WIN, or visit https://www.graybroughton.com.

Gray shares his Richmond upbringing, Army JAG service after 9/11 with deployments including Iraq, and ultimately the founding of Broughton Injury Law in Richmond, Virginia in 2018, now a 15-person firm. 

Harry recounts immigrating with his mother from Managua, Nicaragua to Virginia in 2007, at the age of 12, starting personal injury intake work in 2016, and now serving as head of intake and business development for the Gray Broughton firm. 

Sharif describes growing up in Northern Virginia, but also spending years of his childhood in Egypt and Lebanon, before attending VMI and UVA Law. Years of army trial experience, federal clerkships and working in big law ultimately led to discovering personal injury law, which has become his passion. Sharif also hosts the popular "Courtroom Stories & Tactics" podcast, which profiles trial lawyers from across the country and their advice for young lawyers entering the field.

The People Who Make Virginia however does not have a legal focus specifically, but rather a broader aim of shining a spotlight on Virginia's community leaders, behind-the-scenes contributors and unsung heroes, to give them a platform to share their stories and projects. With put a particular focus on veterans, and their unique angle and experience.

The goal is to show how people are contributing to Virginia, to give them recognition, and to enable connections that make our communities stronger.

These are The People Who Make Virginia: “Real Stories from Virginia’s Leaders.”

If we can ever be of help to you, give us a call at 1-877-VETS WIN, or visit https://www.graybroughton.com.