The U.S. Naval Institute is turning to YouTube and television to promote the importance of sea power and to keep alive the country's maritime war heritage.

The Maryland nonprofit traditionally published books and magazines. But the group recently recognized that it needs to reach a younger audience with a more "today" medium.

This fall, the institute uploaded a series of 90-second vignettes to a dedicated page on YouTube featuring veterans sharing their wartime experiences.

About 21 of the 41 vignettes that the Naval Institute recorded over the past year were aired during a half-hour documentary titled Americans at War that aired on Veterans Day on PBS. The documentary included narratives from famous veterans such as former President George Bush, former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey and Virginia Senator Jim Webb.