Penn Area Library will host Vietnam War events this fall
In addition to the Penn Area Library becoming one of 50 libraries in the nation to receive a copy — and permission to screen — Ken Burns' forthcoming documentary about the Vietnam War, they are making sure patrons have plenty of opportunities to learn more about the conflict.
The library will host several fall events touching on various aspects of the war and will bring local veterans in to give firsthand accounts of what it was like.
"My summer has been pretty crazy," said library director Dorene Miller of the planning efforts.
The library will receive an American Library Association grant that includes the full set of DVDs for "The Vietnam War," Burns' documentary that premieres Sept. 17 on PBS. The libraries selected also will receive a companion book and a programming kit, Miller said.
"I was thinking of all the things coming up, like Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day, and I didn't want to wait to hear if we'd received the grant," Miller said. "I wanted to move forward with programming to coincide with the (DVD) release."
Partnering with the Vietnam Veterans of Westmoreland County , the library will host a program on Sept. 15 — National POW/MIA Recognition Day — where veterans will post an honor guard with a POW flag at the library's veterans memorial, along with a tent where veteran Rich Griser will have the "Missing Man" table set up in recognition of veterans missing in action.
Griser also will be part of an Oct. 23 event that is geared more toward adults.
"The veterans will bring in artifacts and memorabilia from the war, and they will have a very open, frank discussion about it," Miller said.
The group's vice president, Bill Albright of Ruffsdale, said things wouldn't get too graphic.
"I don't think we're going to get down to body bags and ears and that type of thing," Albright said. "But it will be pretty involved."
Griser will discuss prisoners of war and those missing in action; veteran Jack Otto will show artwork he created related to the war and discuss how it helped him cope with his memories and make a return to civilian life; and veteran Bill Shupe will show a film, moderate a Q&A session and show a series of letters he wrote to his mother during the war, which she saved.
"People will be able to look through them and get a real good idea of what day-to-day living was like," said Albright, an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam in 1971-72. "I think it'll be very informative."
Miller said she linked up with the veterans group through a fellow book lover: Albright's wife, Janice, a former librarian at the Smithton Public Library.
"It was a nice surprise," Miller said. "They're a terrific group."
Albright said he's happy to be working with the library to educate residents.
"I think it's very nice to bring us in and let the public talk with us," he said. "I think it's just good to get the information out there and let people know that there are still a lot of Vietnam veterans here in Westmoreland County."
Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-2862, pvarine@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MurrysvilleStar.
