Upcoming exhibits seeks Vietnam War stories
Free Press staff report | 3/30/2023, 6 p.m.
March 29 was National Vietnam War Veterans Day, and this year the day marked the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of the last American troops from South Vietnam. As Americans reflect on the service and sacrifices of Vietnam War veterans, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) is asking Virginians with personal connections to the Vietnam War to share their stories for a new exhibition.
“Virginia and the Vietnam War” is a temporary exhibition that will invite guests to immerse themselves in the choices, perspectives, and experiences of Virginians during the Vietnam War era. Although the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon in 1975, Virginians continue to be divided over America’s participation.
The exhibition will explore the long-term impacts of the war on Virginia’s people, politics and culture and facilitate a greater understanding of this tumultuous time in American history. “Virginia and the Vietnam War” will open to the public on November 23, 2024 and remain on view through April 27, 2025.
The VMHC is seeking Virginians who experienced the war to interview for inclusion in the exhibition - including veterans, pro and anti-war activists, Vietnamese American refugees, military family members. The recorded interviews and transcriptions will be added to the VMHC’s oral history collection and made available to students, scholars and the general public.
For more information, please visit VirginiaHistory.org/VAVietnam.
