SPRINGFIELD — Thousands of Baby Boomers living right here in western New England have a personal story to tell about The Vietnam War. Their parents and children can also relate personally to the effects of that war, which took more than 58,000 American lives. Local public television station WGBY is hosting a September event aimed at collecting and sharing those personal Vietnam-era stories in the hopes of fostering a reconnection within the community to that not-so-distant historic event.
On Sunday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m., WGBY invites the public to the Academy of Music in Northampton to watch an advance screening of The Vietnam War, a documentary series from filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. The one-hour screening will be followed by a panel discussion of academics and authors as well as a veteran and a veteran family member.
Before, during, and after the screening and discussion, event attendees will be encouraged to share their own personal Vietnam-era stories online, on paper, or in front of the camera in an ongoing effort to share diverse perspectives. Additionally, stories can be shared online at wgby.org/vietnam and via social media at facebook.com/wgbytv.
THE VIETNAM WAR SERIES
The name Ken Burns has become synonymous with the historic documentary. He is best known for his use of archival footage and photography in retelling such U.S. stories as The Civil War and The Roosevelts. This month, Ken Burns returns along with director/producer Lynn Novick to premiere a landmark 10-part, 18-hour series chronicling The Vietnam War.
“More than 40 years after it ended, we can’t forget Vietnam,” Burns says, “and we are still arguing about why it went wrong, who was to blame, and whether it was all worth it.”
Ten years in the making, Burns and Novick’s series includes rarely seen and digitally re-mastered archival footage from sources around the globe, including evocative home movies and secret audio recordings from inside the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations.
The first five episodes of The Vietnam War will air nightly on WGBY Sunday, Sept. 17 through Thursday, Sept. 21, and the final five episodes will air nightly from Sunday, Sept. 24 through Thursday, Sept. 28. Each episode will premiere at 8 p.m. with a repeat broadcast immediately following the premiere. All 10 episodes will be available to WGBY Passport members for online streaming beginning Sunday, Sept. 17.
9/10 EVENT PANELISTS
In order to maximize the impact of PBS’s The Vietnam War series on the local level, public television station WGBY, along with partners at Hampshire College and the Veterans Education Project, has arranged a panel discussion moderated by Bill Newman, a civil rights attorney practicing in Northampton and director of the Western Regional Law Office of the ACLU of Massachusetts.
Newman is no stranger to facilitating important — and sometimes potentially emotional — discussions, as he hosts a weekday talk radio show on WHMP and creates a regular podcast. Newman will welcome four important contributors to the panel:
- Lady Borton— A leading authority on the impact of the American war in Vietnam, Borton is a writer, historian, writer, academic, cultural expert, and activist.
- Lidon “Don” Chevannes — Drafted into the Army, Chevannes served in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971. In civilian life, he struggled with undiagnosed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and drug addiction before benefiting from and advocating for Soldier On, a program for homeless veterans.
- Jessica Jimison — The oldest daughter of Marine Corps veteran Gordon Fletcher-Howell, who served two tours in Vietnam (1967 and 1968). Fletcher-Howell was diagnosed with PTSD in the early 1990s and now resides at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Jimison is a nurse practioner and former Veterans Education Project Board member.
- Michael Klare — Director of the Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies (PAWSS), Klare holds a B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from the Graduate School of the Union Institute. He has written widely on U.S. military policy, international peace and security affairs, the global arms trade, and global resource politics.
Authors books will be available for sale and to be signed at the screening courtesy of South Hadley-based Odyssey Bookshop.
Doors at the Academy of Music will open Sunday, Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m. The advance screening of The Vietnam War will begin at 4 p.m., followed immediately by the panel discussion. A video crew will be set up in the salon to capture personal Vietnam-era related stories from those attendees willing and interested to share.
For admission information, contact the Academy of Music Box Office (open Tuesday-Friday from 3-6 p.m.). Call 413-584-9032 ext.105. (No reservations or online ticketing available.) Event details available at wbgy.org/vietnam.
