Vietnam: A Month to Remember
During May 2013, Decatur Public Library joins the Vietnam Remembrance Committee in featuring programs and exhibits about the Vietnam Era. Please join us in learning about the Vietnam Era and remembering our veterans.
Vietnam Era Memorabilia Exhibit Opening
Wednesday, May 1st @ 5:30pm
2nd Floor Gallery
Please join the Vietnam Remembrance Committee as we open the Decatur Public Library’s Vietnam Photo and Memorabilia Exhibit. This free program will be held in the Second Floor Gallery and light refreshments will be served.
This photo and memorabilia exhibit will be open to the public during library hours through the month of May and features items on loan from people from the community who served during the Vietnam Era. The exhibit will be located in the DPL Second Floor Gallery and in display cases throughout the library.
The 1968 Democratic National Convention and the Lincoln Park Neighborhood in Chicago
Thursday, May 2nd @ 6pm
Madden Auditorium
This lecture, the 1st in our series about the Vietnam Ear, features Dr. Brian Mullgardt from Millikin University. Dr. Mullgardt earned his BA and MA in History from Southern Illinois University, and his PhD in History from the University of Connecticut. He specializes in Cold War society and culture, with special attention to the 1960s. He will be giving a lecture on the 1968 DNC Convention Riots and it’s impact on the Lincoln Park Neighborhood. This free program will be held in the Madden Auditorium.
“Flashback: Nam” with Storyteller Camille Born
Thursday, May 2nd @ 6pm
Barclay Public Library in Warrensburg
Camille tells traditional multicultural folk tales, scary stories, original historical stories, and personal stories in libraries, schools, for civic and social groups, and as a member of her teller guild’s concert series. Please join Camille for her program at Barclay Public Library in Warrensburg, IL.
Program Presented by Tammy Fadler
Saturday, May 4th @ 2pm
Madden Auditorium
Tammy Fadler’s origins guide her philosophy to this day. Born in Vietnam and the oldest of 12 children, she worked in food service for the U.S. Army for the six years before the American military pullout in 1973. Without the U.S. presence, security and economic stability were severely compromised; Fadler worried for her family’s safety. She left for America with the thought that, “if my family is to leave for a better place, I’m going to have to make it happen.” She worked diligently through the years to raise the money and complete the lengthy paperwork to get 25 of her family members moved to America. She describes her motivation and focus with advice from her father as she left Vietnam: “You can go, but I want you to always remember one thing: you can make the money, but never let the money make you.” Please join her as she gives her remarkable story in the Madden Auditorium. This program is free and open to the public.
One Book, One Community featuring “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
Join us during May 2013 as we remember the Vietnam Era and encourage our community to read “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. “The Things They Carried” depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O’Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three.
Starting April 22nd, pick up your FREE copy of “The Things They Carried” at the Reference Desk at DPL. We have a limited number of paperback copies of the book to give away to our patrons. Read It! Discuss It! Pass It On!
Discussion dates and times:
Wednesday, May 8th @ 10am in the Staley Room
Thursday, May 16th @ 1pm in the Board Room (DPL Book Club)
Monday, May 20th @ 6pm in the Staley Room
Tuesday, May 28th @ 2pm in the Staley Room
Local Author Tom Jones
Please join us to hear this dynamic speaker tell his personal story about serving during the Vietnam War and its impact on today’s returning veterans.
Tom served as a Senior Hospital Corpsman with the 3rd Recon Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. As part of a six man team he went on Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LURP) deep into communist insurgent territories. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Services Medal.
An articulate and engaging speaker, Tom shares his particular war experiences of the survival journey required by the return to civilian life plus anecdotes garnered from his work as a counselor to other veterans and their families. Tom has also been a requested speaker on the topic of the similarities/differences between the Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, citing the unique impact of deployment of our National Guard Units.
Program dates and times:
Thursday, May 9th @ 6pm in the Madden Auditorium at Decatur Public Library
Saturday, May 11th @ 10am at Forsyth Public Library
Saturday, May 11th @ 1pm at Mt. Zion District Library
The Wall That Heals: Vietnam War Memorial Replica Exhibit
May 16th-19th @ Decatur Public Library
Parking Lot
“The Wall That Heals” exhibition features a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is approximately 250 feet in length, and, like the original Memorial, is erected in a chevron-shape. The replica is constructed of powder-coated aluminum, supported by an aluminum frame, and is made up of 24 individual panels, each containing six columns of names. The panels join together to form a nearly 250 feet wide structure. The exhibit includes a visitor’s booth and mobile museum.
Please join The Vietnam Remembrance Committee at 10:30am on Saturday, May 18th at the Decatur Public Library in the parking lot next to “The Wall That Heals” as we take the opportunity to say “thank you” to those who served and to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Everyone is welcome to attend this Remembrance Ceremony. Rain location is the Madden Auditorium at the Decatur Public Library.
St. Mary’s Health Education Program: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Tuesday, May 21st @ 6pm
Staley Room
Steve Rathnow, LCPC, Senior Counselor at St Mary’s Behavioral Health will present on post-traumatic stress disorder. This free program is for anyone who would like to learn more about post-traumatic stress from a local expert.
Presentation by Hung Vin Nguyen
Thursday, May 30th @ 6pm
Madden Auditorium
A former South Vietnamese Air Force pilot during the war, Hung Vin Nguyen will give a presentation on the Vietnam War from a native perspective.
