On September 1, Mississippi Public Broadcasting hosted a preview screening of the new Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary, "The Vietnam War". The event was hosted at the Ocean Springs Civic Center.
Approximately 200 guests enjoyed touring the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a luncheon and panel discussion of special guest speakers honoring our Mississippi Vietnam veterans.
We want to extend a Thank You to all of our guests including around 80 Veterans that attended.
Special thanks to our panelists and keynote speaker:
- Trang Pham Bui, a Vietnamese-American, who fled her home country at the end of the war and now makes her home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Ms. Bui currently works as the Public Relations Specialist for Harrison County Schools.
- Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dick Wilson, who, among his long list of military duty, served as a pilot in the Vietnam War from 1971-72.
- Dr. Andrew Wiest, historian of the Vietnam War at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Wiest is the author of several books on the war, including "The Boys of '67: Charlie Company's War in Vietnam," and is Founding Director of the Dale Center for the Study of War and Society.
Mr. Charles J. Brown, Hattiesburg native, retired Army Staff Sergeant served in Vietnam from 1967-68, Commissioner with the Hattiesburg Convention Commission.
Dr. John Pendergrass, retired United States Air Force Flight Surgeon, served as our Keynote Speaker.
We would also like to extend thanks to, our facilitator and host Marshall Ramsey; LaKeisha Bryant-Hall; Joe Pierce; Larry Lucas; Dr. Stuart Rockoff; Connie Moran; Dale Nunnery; Lt. Col. John Thompson; Tracy Stanley; Carl King; Christopher C. Moore; Bill Joyner and Joe Pierce.
We would also like to thank, The American Legion Post 42; Keesler Air Force Base; The City of Ocean Springs; St. Martin High School AFJROTC; USM Dale Center for the Study of War and Society; Ocean Springs Civic Center; Mississippi Humanities Council and the MPB Foundation.
A special Thank You to our elected officials that were present, Shea Dobson, Mayor of Ocean Springs, and Mississippi House Representative, Manly Barton.
To all Mississippi Veterans, we Salute You and Thank You for your service to America!
If you attended this event, we ask that you take a few minutes to fill out a brief survey.
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Couldn't make it to the event? Check out some photos and watch the panel discussion, below.
