Utah Honor Flight Veterans Visit 威尼斯人娱乐场鈥� 鈥淩emembering Vietnam鈥� Exhibit
By Kerri Lawrence 听|听 威尼斯人娱乐场 News
Vietnam veteran Ron Thorn
U.S. Army Vietnam veteran Ron Thorn shares what his visit to the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC,听means to him. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
WASHINGTON, November 14, 2017 鈥� Forty-eight Vietnam War veterans came from Utah as part of an Honor Flight to the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC, where they attended the November 10 public opening of the 鈥�Remembering Vietnam鈥� exhibit, in conjunction with the observance of the听Veterans Day holiday.
Archivist of the United States and fellow Vietnam War veteran David S. Ferriero welcomed the veterans to the 威尼斯人娱乐场 amidst the Founding Documents鈥攖he Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights鈥攊n the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Rotunda.
鈥淎s a veteran of the Vietnam War, I was determined to mark the 50th anniversary of the height of the Vietnam War with an exhibition here at the 威尼斯人娱乐场,鈥� Ferriero said.
鈥淭oday it is with great pride that this exhibit opens,鈥� Ferriero continued. 鈥淚t is a collection of newly discovered and iconic original documents, images, film footage, and artifacts that illuminate 12 critical episodes in the war that divided the peoples of both the United States and Vietnam.鈥�
Keynote speaker Earl Morse, co-founder of the Honor Flight Network, shared his experience as the son of a Vietnam soldier and his memories as an elementary student living on a military base during the war. He told how three times during his childhood he watched fellow students being told their fathers would not return alive from battle. He shared how his own father鈥檚 silence about the war after his return truly affected their whole family.
鈥淭he opening of this exhibit means a long-overdue recognition for some incredibly brave warriors who risked their lives for the sake of this country,鈥� Morse said. 鈥淭he Vietnam vets fought a war on two fronts: they fought it on the battlefield and they fought it when they came home. For them to finally get this long-overdue recognition, it warms my heart.鈥�
Many of the men who attended were visibly touched; the exhibit seemed to bring out many emotions and memories that were clearly still strong in their minds decades later.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a welcome home,鈥� said U.S. Army veteran Ron Thorn of Richfield, Utah, his voice wavering with emotion. 鈥淚t鈥檚 recognition . . . it鈥檚 forgiveness.鈥�
Pausing to gather his thoughts, Thorn added, 鈥淗aving a chance to see this for the first time is almost hard to describe. It鈥檚 the 50 years of avoiding it, and now finally seeing the recognition that everyone who served deserves...this exhibit is over the top...this is beautiful.鈥澨�
Roger Clegg, David Pratz, and Ralph Esparza viewed an interactive map of the war zone within the exhibit, sharing their own personal stories and memories from the trying times of war.听
鈥淚t brings brings back so many memories and puts tears in your eyes,鈥� Clegg said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough. When we came home we were treated horribly.鈥澨� He told how many military men and women were spat upon when they returned from the war.听He told of the disrespect so many showed for those who answered the nation鈥檚 call and went to fight.
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"Remembering Vietnam" exhibit curator Alice Kamps shares the new exhibit with an Honor Flight veteran who attended the grand opening on November 10, 2017, at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero welcomes Utah Honor Flight Vietnam veterans to the opening ceremony for the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
Keynote speaker Earl Morse, co-founder of Honor Flight, thanks the Vietnam veterans during opening ceremonies for the听"Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Rotunda in Washington, DC. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo by James Pritchett)
Supervisory museum specialist Michael Hussey welcomes Utah Honor Flight Vietnam veterans to the "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit during the grand opening on November 10, 2017, in Washington, DC. The veterans were the first public citizens to view the new exhibit. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
Vietnam veteran Ralph Esparza points out where he fought during his service in Vietnam听on an electronic map within the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
"Remembering Vietnam" exhibit curator Alice Kamps points out a photo to an Honor Flight veteran and his attendee at the new exhibit during the grand opening on November 10, 2017, at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photos by James Pritchett)
Honor Flight Vietnam veterans from Utah enter the "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC, on the opening day, November 10, 2017. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
The North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association displayed a Bell helicopter for public tours during the grand opening weekend of the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, D.C. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo by Rania Hassan)
Honor Flight officials listen in on an interactive feature within the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
The public was able to view and tour three different Vietnam-era Bell helicopters on the grounds of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, D.C. during the grand opening weekend of the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo by Rania Hassan)
"Remembering Vietnam" exhibit curator Alice Kamps talks with Honor Flight Vietnam veteran Edward C. Brandol during the opening of the new exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, D.C. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
A Vietnam-era Bell helicopter鈥攖he Widow Maker鈥攚as on display for the public during the grand opening weekend of the new "Remembering Vietnam"听exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, D.C. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo by Rania Hassan)
Director of education and public programs at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Maria Marable-Bunch distributes special United States Vietnam War Commemoration lapel pins to Honor Flight guests as they enter the "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit for the first time. A memento of thanks, the back of the pins are embossed with 鈥淎 Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.鈥� (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo听by James Pritchett)
Members of the North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association sit on a Bell helicopter as they prepare for tours with the public during Members of the North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association sit on a Bell helicopter as they prepare for tours with the public during the grand opening weekend of the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo by Rania Hassan)
A Vietnam鈥揺ra medic Bell helicopter was on display for the public during the grand opening weekend of the new "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo by Rania Hassan)
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Esparza shared that the exhibit brought back many vivid memories for him.听
鈥淲hen we actually see it again, it does remind us as if it were yesterday. We recognize a lot of things that have happened in our lives and Vietnam that are right here,鈥� Esparza said. 鈥淭his exhibit has truly captured it. . . . it鈥檚 a real tribute to all the services who were there to live it.鈥�
While in our nation's capital, the veterans also visited memorials and other important sites throughout the city. According to Honor Flight officials, this Honor Flight was special for two reasons: First, this flight consisted solely of Vietnam veterans, marking the first time veterans from Vietnam were singled out. Second, the veterans were invited to be the very first group to publicly view the interactive, media-rich exhibit听on the day it was opened to the public.
鈥淩emembering Vietnam鈥� will be open until January 9, 2019. The exhibit explores 12 critical episodes in the Vietnam War and seeks to answer questions about this turbulent period in American history. Read more about the exhibit at Archives.gov, post,听Prologue magazine, and the
The grand opening of the exhibit also featured three original Vietnam War鈥揺ra helicopters on display on the 威尼斯人娱乐场 grounds鈥攖he Bell AH-1 Cobra, the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, and the Bell OH-58 Kiowa. The arrived after dark on November 6 and installed the helicopters, where they remained through opening weekend of the new exhibit until Monday, November 13.
The public was able to tour the aircraft and speak to members of the association, who were all pilots of these types of aircraft during the war.
In addition, free public programs鈥攊ncluding author lectures, panel discussions, and films centered on听the Vietnam War era鈥攈ave been featured this fall and continue throughout the coming months. For more information on these events, see the online Calendar of Events.听 听
To read more about the Vietnam War and see the resources available at the 威尼斯人娱乐场, visit this dedicated page on the Vietnam War.