Eyes Wide Open left town with rave reviews, emotional responses, thanks and heartfelt appreciation--and that's just from VFP members!! Visitors voiced appreciation for the display, sadness about the losses depicted and resolve to end war.
I had the high honor to lead a group of 10 trauma counselors at the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington in November, 1982. We were stationed adjacent to the Wall in a motor home provided by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. My team provided 24/7 crisis counseling during the week of the dedication. It was an awesomely intense and humbling experience. It seemed that everyone who visited had a personal story about the impact of the Vietnam War in their life.
My work at the Eyes Wide Open display this weekend activated many of those memories from so many years ago. Many visitors were noticeably moved. Many had personal stories about cousins, sons, in laws, friends, former students, and casual acquaintances. It was powerful!
As was the case in 1982 in Washington, I was exhausted from the weekend's work at the Four Freedoms Monument. VFP was nobly represented by Ron Greenfield, Rodney Wilson, Karen Lipinczyk, Dave Helfrich, Ken Back and Gary May today. The chapter distinguished itself this weekend and elevated its profile in the community. We were all honored to work with Erin Polley, the State Coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee--SHE WAS AWESOME!!
We look forward to bringing the display back to Evansville--after we catch our breaths!! We also explored the possibility of bringing Erin back to do a Community Education Event on the Costs of War. Stay tuned for details about this.
Please click on the article title above to view photos from today.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, September 21, 2009
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