ABOUT
Honor Their Stories was established in late 2023 by a Maryland teen as an online project aiming to advocate for veterans in a way that transcends all political, social, and economic differences/boundaries.
The Mission
Act. Speak. Empower.
My name is Rachael Henske, and I'm the creator of Honor Their Stories. I believe in honoring those who work to defend our country each day, and hopefully inspiring other young people to do the same.
I created Honor Their Stories when I was 16 years old, with the goal of spreading awareness about veterans' issues in a way that will unite people from all different social and political backgrounds. That mission has since been extended to sharing current events, snapshots from military history, and shedding light on the issues facing American veterans today.
All articles/opinions/posts are my own (although I do take information and statistics from other news sources, and indicate when I do).
My Work
While social media is my primary outlet for sharing my mission, my work has expanded to legislative advocacy, public speaking sessions, and educating other students about how they can be catalysts for change in their communities.
From writing to and speaking with my congressman (both virtually and in person), to reaching out to other young people, I hope to teach those in my generation they are not "too young" to make a difference.
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June 2024: Awarded the Ronald Reagan Leadership Medal, an honor given to high school juniors and seniors across the U.S., for demonstrating leadership and selfless service, specifically through my commitment to civic engagement.
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May 2025: Nominated and selected to receive the American Legion Auxiliary Youth Good Deed Award for my advocacy, becoming the only Maryland recipient of the award for that year.
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June 2025: Received the Sen. Van Hollen Public Service Award for embodying a strong sense of civic responsibility.
