A poster by Marland Johnson that took first prize nationally in a 1952 American Legion Auxiliary contest is pictured next to a jacket belonging to Fredericksburg Vietnam vet, Dennis Shurtleff.
Exhibit Type
Temporary Exhibit
On Display
August-October 2015
Reception Date
August 23, 2015 | 1:30-3:30PM

A snapshot can say a lot. The time, place, event and human emotions captured in the blink of an eye tell a story that is broader than the 3″x 5″ or 4″ x 6″ format of a Kodak print. A collection of such snapshots expands the story exponentially. Such is the nature of “Remembering Vietnam”, the current Temporary Exhibit at the Carnegie Cultural Center in New Hampton which will be on display through October.

This year we, as a nation, are pausing to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam Conflict. The Carnegie exhibit offers a snapshot of the period by highlighting the diverse experiences of individual Chickasaw County veterans. Seen as a whole, the display presents a bigger picture of one of the most difficult and controversial times in American history. For some, memories from the Vietnam era are fraught with unease and adverse emotions. In commemoration, we are able to accept those perceptions, place them in their proper context, recognize new understandings from the perspective of history and, hopefully, take a step toward healing.

While Carnegie volunteers spent a lot of time in attempting to identify and contact appropriate veterans, there are, no doubt, many who were missed. Anyone still interested in including their information in the exhibit are strongly urged to contact the Cultural Center.

Everyone is invited to attend an open house reception for “Remembering Vietnam” on Sunday, August 23 from 1:30 – 3:30 to honor area veterans, share stories and enjoy refreshments.