LZ LAMBEAU - WISCONSIN'S SALUTE TO VIETNAM VETS

I had the honor of attending LZ LAMBEAU in Green Bay Wisconsin last weekend. It was a beautiful 3 day salute to Vietnam veterans and those who did not return, their families and friends. Over 75,000 people filled the parking lot and Lambeau Field - home of the Green Bay Packers. There were mini-reunions, lectures on the music and literature of the Vietnam era, live bands and singers, photo displays, military aircraft and equipment, and the "Big Map"- a vinyl map of Southeast Asia and the South China Sea stretched out on the Lambeau parking lot with all principal cities and American bases marked on it. Thousands of Vietnam vets signed their names, units, and left messages to those they left behind. It will be donated to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison.
Saturday evening brought an emotional and beautiful tribute to Vietnam vets inside Lambeau Field.
Over 2000 empty white chairs were set up on the field representing Wisconsin's losses. A Medal of Honor soldier, Gary Wetzel, spoke and the Wisconsin National Guard completely surrounded the field - first turning toward the field to salute the dead, then turning toward the stands to salute the veterans. The best part of the experience at LZ Lambeau for me was sharing these experiences with the sister and niece of my best friend in Vietnam, Bob Pulaski, who died at age 19 during our operations near the A Shau Valley in 1971. I will never forget him, nor the weekend at LZ Lambeau. Thank you Sandy and Kaley.

PONTIAC HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY CLASSES

Thanks to the Pontiac Township High School history department for arranging a very impactful field trip to our museum last week. Over two days, seven junior history classes had the opportunity to interact with twelve veterans on our staff. The students were studying the Vietnam war, but were also able to interview combat veterans of World War II and the Korean war, as well as other peacetime veterans. Our veterans were impressed by the students interest and enthusiasm for military history as students learned lessons impossible to learn by textbooks alone.

In the photo: Eric Sweetwood and Megan Bozarth of the Pontiac Township High School history department present a check to Jack Murphy, Museum president, on behalf of their school. Thank you from our veterans and museum members!

Don Eskesen, Navy vet, with Pontiac High School students

Lloyd Mays. veteran, talks about his experiences.

Jack Murphy, Museum president and Korean War combat vet, talks about his service.

Willis Harms, a World war II combat vet and medic, with Pontiac High School history students.

Chuck Dunning, a Marine veteran of Korea and now our staff photographer, talks about his tour of duty.

Bill Hall, a World War II Marine in the Pacific, talks about his service.

Dwayne Currington, an MP in Vietnam, talks about his experiences.

ASTA CARE BAKE SALE FOR MUSEUM

Thank you to Asta Care of Pontiac for your bake sale benefit for our museum during the Red Carpet Corridor weekend. In the photo: Willis Harms, World War II veteran and museum member, accepts a check on behalf of the Livingston County War Museum. With Willis are veterans from Asta Care.

45 Countries and counting!

With a visit by people from Israel and New Guinea last week, our museum now has had visitors from 45 countries on 6 continents!