Medals, letters, protest banners and personal keepsakes tell the stories of Virginians whose lives were shaped by the Vietnam War in a new exhibition at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. 

Curated by historian and Virginia Commonwealth University professor Emilie Raymond, the exhibit continues through July 6, 2025, marking 50 years since the Fall of Saigon.

The display uses artifacts and oral histories to highlight the physical and emotional burdens carried by Virginia’s soldiers, policymakers, families, activists and Vietnamese migrants. Through these personal accounts, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the war’s far-reaching effects on individuals and communities across the state.

Exhibit highlights include a “blood chit” carried by an assault helicopter pilot, a personalized towel used by a Navy pilot in the “Hanoi Hilton” prison, a “Yippie” flag from anti-war protests in Washington, a shirt from a Vietnamese refugee and a Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to an officer who died saving his troops.

The exhibit reflects Virginia’s deep ties to the Vietnam War. More than 230,000 Virginians served, 1,490 lost their lives, and the state ranked fifth in the nation for prisoners of war held during the conflict. Today, about 200,000 Vietnam-era veterans and 60,000 Vietnamese Americans live in Virginia.

Admission is included with museum entry and is free for members. For more information, visit virginiahistory.org.