Oral history project to collect story of state’s Vietnam-era veterans for MOA event

Mary Divine, Pioneer Press
Updated ·1 min read

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting a three-day event in June to commemorate of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

As part of that event, which will run June 13-15 at the Mall of America, the MDVA is looking for Vietnam-era veterans to participate in the Vietnam War Commemoration Oral History Project.

The project is “an opportunity for veterans to share their experiences about their time in the service during the war to help educate the public and generations to come,” according to a news release.

Veterans who wish to participate by being interviewed will record a video of their story, which will be archived and preserved as part of the project.

“It will provide an opportunity for future generations to hear directly from our veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service to our country,” the release states. “Family members can also participate in interviews to help give a clearer picture of the effect that service had on loved ones back home.”

The celebration is being held in June as part of the national 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War commemoration; the timeline for the ending of the war is fluid with events beginning when the U.S. ended direct involvement with the war in 1973, to no U.S. involvement at all in early 1975, to the fall of Saigon in April 1975, according to the organizers of the event.

Anyone interested in learning more about the interview process or signing up to be interviewed for the Vietnam War Commemoration Oral History Project can contact Bess Ellenson at bellenson@tunheim.com.

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