Vietnam War exhibit debuts in Scottsdale library

Joshua Zuber, For the Tribune

September 19, 2007 - 7:24PM

Scottsdale Public Library debuted its latest exhibit, the Vietnam Experience, to the public today.

The exhibit displays the memories and perspectives of the war through the eyes of local residents.

It’s important for people to see a time in history when things were changing, said Kathy Coster, 55, a manager at the Scottsdale Public Library.

“It was really the first time that you saw a population rise up and say ‘No, we’re not going to war,’” Coster said.

A Vietnam War timeline stretches the entire length of one side of the exhibit’s wall. The top depicts the events on the battlefield of Vietnam, while the bottom recounts the events at home.

The ReVentures is the volunteer group coordinating the project, Coster said. They are supported by money from the Arizona State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act.

The group has been meeting since May 2006 to work on this project, Coster said. Nearly 35 people worked on putting this exhibit together, she added.

“The more people learned about it,” Coster said, “the more people appeared to find out what this project is about.”

Coster noted that one woman from as far away as Sun City donated poetry written by her son during his time at Vietnam.

Others donated original uniforms worn by soldiers, and one worn by a Vietnamese soldier.

Other highlights include a transmission from a presidential telex, with President Ford saying to the American ambassador in Saigon that it’s time to get out, said Don Mayeski, the head volunteer coordinator of the exhibit.

Photos also are displayed from the battle field along with newspapers printed in Arizona and posters most likely stored in someone’s attic for decades.

On one side of the exhibit is a wall listing the names of the 623 Arizona vets that died during the Vietnam War. It has their name, age, Arizona hometown, branch of service, and where their lives were claimed.

The Vietnam Experience will be held at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., for two-months, ending on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11.

On the web: www.scottsdalelibrary.org

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Todd Stallion

There is a better vietnam exhibit being held in Iraq right now, its put on by the same criminals who ran the original vietnam war...

We only killed 1 Million Vietnamese in that one. Suggest removal of this comment

September 19, 2007

tet68

The Vietnam Experience is not to be confused with the Vietnam Memorial that honors our fallen heroes, It sounds like a pseudo attempt to make something like a political statement as it was back when the war was ongoing. Nobody denies that the war was fought for the wrong reasons. At least, towards the end that is…….

Pictures and memorabilia will no doubt trigger good and bad memories for those that served there, men and women alike. However, with the resurfacing of these visible reminders will also come the pain and sorrow in remembrance of our best friends and family members that we lost along the way. Personally, I think there can be such a thing as too much politics in the area of Vietnam era art. Sorry to say this but I don’t think too many Vietnam veterans will want to see an exhibit that compares their actions with those that were protesting against them at home while they were following the law of the land (the draft) and leaving their loved ones behind to fight somebody else’s’ war. (I hope I am wrong for it may be part of the healing process) Myself, after dealing with the memories for over thirty years, I find my solace in traveling to Washington DC to be with my brothers and sisters that gave it all so we can bicker and complain about what is right or wrong. God Bless America and its way of life.

For those who continue to complain and voice their opposition to the war in Iraq, I say, take advantage of your freedom of speech for the opportunity to do so was provided for you with other’s pain and blood on battlefields long ago.

Before you rush to your computer to email a response, pause for a second and thank a veteran and appreciate the moment you are enjoying by having the ability to fire back any comment or principles you feel is appropriate for the cause. I want you to be free and happy in doing that. It makes my day to see you have the inhibited ability to do so anytime, anywhere you want to, as long as it is in the US.
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September 19, 2007

tonythetiger

good response tet68. Suggest removal of this comment

September 19, 2007

I wonder???

I appreciate the effort of every single person in our armed forces and the sacrifices that they have made. Their families desrve no less honor.

Although now our society has come to the realization that we lost the Vietnam War and many atrocities were committed by both sides of the conflict, the question begs to be asked: How much time will pass before the same realization occurs with Bush's War, opps I mean the war in Iraq? This is a valid historical question, not some misdirected polictical statement. Suggest removal of this comment

September 19, 2007

tet68

I wonder ???

You are right, it s a valid historical question that the government must answer one of hese days., Will they be truthful, I doubt it..Just like the past, a third source will tell the truth.
God Bless our troops that sacrifice so much to keep us safe Suggest removal of this comment