Every veteran has a unique story to tell.

The ways war has affected the lives of those who have served their country are as numerous as the individuals who have served, and the Dallastown Area Historical Society is eager to document all of those things.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, local veterans and their families are invited to Community Share Day upstairs at the Dallastown American Legion.

Veterans are welcome to share stories, medals, letters, photographs and any other artifacts relating to the military in both war and peacetime.

The public is welcome to attend, and food will be available for purchase from the Legion Auxiliary.

The historical society will have a camera, video camera, copier and scanner available to make a record of the artifacts and photographs. Tables are also available at no charge for anyone who would like to display a collection of military artifacts.

No obligation: People are welcome to donate items to the historical society's museum, but certainly do not have to feel obligated to, said board member Mike Sentz.

"I have my grandfather's jacket from World War II, and I would not want to give that up permanently quite yet," Sentz said.

But with time, the stories from those items are often lost, he said, and allowing photographs and records to be taken of the artifacts can help preserve the stories.

The Dallastown Area Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the museum at 118 E. Main St. For more information, visit the Dallastown Area Historical Society Facebook page.

-- Reach Chelsea Shank at cshank@yorkdispatch.com.