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 The panel discussion includes an array of
perspectives on the war from people who felt its impact: a military
nurse, a conscientious objector, a Vietnamese refugee and more. It
will be moderated by Dr. Mark DePue, head of the presidential
library’s Oral History Program.
The event is being presented in collaboration with Illinois Public
Media/WILL TV, which has worked with the presidential library to
record the oral histories of Vietnam veterans. Kimberlie Kranich,
Illinois Public Media’s director of community content & engagement,
will discuss that partnership and introduce the documentary preview.
“The Vietnam War,” directed by Burns and Novick, is a 10-part,
18-hour documentary. Burns first rose to national prominence with
“The Civil War.” Together, he and Novick have produced many
acclaimed documentaries, including “Baseball,” the most-watched
series in the history of public television.
“This is without a doubt the most ambitious project
that we have ever undertaken,” Burns says. The ALPLM audience will
get to see about 15 minutes of the new film, which premieres Sept.
17 on PBS.
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The free event takes place at 6:30 in the ALPLM’s Union Theater
(212 N. Sixth Street, Springfield). Visit
www.President
Lincoln.Illinois.gov and click on “special event reservations” to
reserve seats.
“The Vietnam War, in my view, was the seminal event of the late 20th Century, an
experience that traumatized many of us, and not just those who served,” said
DePue. “It’s important that now, from the vantage point of fifty years, we take
a fresh look at that era. Maybe we can even find a bit of wisdom out of the
passions of that age.”
To hear from Vietnam veterans interviewed by the ALPLM’s Oral History Program,
visit bit.ly/ALPLM Vietnam. For more on the documentary, visit
www.PBS.org/kenburns.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to telling the
story of America’s 16th president through old-fashioned scholarship and modern
technology.
The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents,
photographs, artifacts and art, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to
all aspects of Illinois history. The museum uses traditional exhibits,
eye-catching special effects and innovative story-telling techniques to educate
visitors.
[Christopher Wills
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum] |
