Watching Ken Burns & Lynn Novick’s documentary, The Vietnam War, on PBS, brings back memories of my first Letter to the Editor, printed in the Orlando Sentinel circa 1982. Newly pregnant with my second child, full of emotions, mainly guilt, I watched the news coverage of the dedication of the new Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC. Seeing the surviving family members of those killed in the war being interviewed, their grief still raw, prompted me to write this over 30 years ago…
“This letter has been inspired by the Vietnam War memorial dedications in Orlando and Washington.
I was in college during the war. I did not join my friends in protests, but I also did not have any opinions in favor of the war. My biggest concern was whether I had a date or what my next hairstyle would be.
Instead of having compassion for the families of the war dead, I was angry at the news programs for showing the gore of the war during my dinner hour.
The years have gone by and I seem to have changed. As I watch the news coverage of the memorial dedications, I cry along with the families of those being remembered. I just hope that if, God forbid, a similar war happens during my children’s lifetimes, that they have a conviction, whether for or against, and are gutsy enough to demonstrate that conviction, instead of being apathetic.
I hope this letter is not too late to say thank you to all those who fought in Vietnam and all other wars, regardless of their popularity, and to apologize to the families of those being remembered, for being so uncaring.”
Those feelings of guilt are resurfacing with the airing of this amazing documentary. The amount of historical fact being narrated in the PBS series is awe-inspiring. Learning the details of the horrors the beautiful country of Vietnam Nam endured is made worse by the fact that I was clueless at the time. Granted I was only 18, but my lack of knowledge about something so horrific is embarrassing and humbling.
With the advantage of social media avenues to reconnect to classmates who were deployed to serve, we’re being made aware of the terror these friends had to experience, if they were lucky enough to stay alive. Some could not cope and slid into alcoholism and despair. Others somehow compartmentalized the memories and tucked them aside.
Burns’ and Novick’s documentary should be made a part of high school students’ history curriculum, especially while there are veterans of this tragic war still walking among us. Perhaps it’s not too late to let them know they are valued and appreciated for their sacrifice.
Photo courtesy of Orlando Sentinel