Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 7 57 Center combine history about the Vietnam War with history about the Vietnam Era, showing how both impacted and changed the culture, society, and people of New Jersey and the United States. One common misconception about the Museum & Educational Center is that it focuses solely on the war. "We strive to tell a very well-rounded picture. We're about the era. When they hear about us, a lot of people either know we are a memorial but do not know about the Museum & Educational Center, or they think we are a museum just about the war, and it's not. There's so much more to it," Taggart said. Within the museum, two historic timelines cover the walls. One depicts the activity in Vietnam, while the other shows events happening con- currently in the United States. The timeline serves as a representation of the political, military, social, and cultural elements in play during the Vietnam era. Several touch screen computers along the timeline provide an interactive display where visitors can see personal photographs pro- vided by Vietnam veterans and their families interspersed with historical events. Also within the museum is the Circle of Letters, a display that circles the main exhibit area. Actual letters and other items collected from those who served and from their supporters at home are displayed chronological- ly, and visitors can fully read these very personal and first-hand accounts of life as told through the handwrit- ing of soldiers and their loved ones. Reading the letters can be a very moving experience, leaving visitors feeling like they actually communi- cated with those who signed them. The stories told in the Testimony Theater gives visitors the chance to hear firsthand experiences and mem- ories from the real faces and voices who were there. There's the story told by one of the thousands of mothers who lost her sons, then another by a wife left without her husband. Many soldiers share their stories of returning home amid acrimony instead of appreciation, and others who found acclimating to Vietnam extremely difficult. Each reflection provides a deeper understanding of what these veterans and those close to them endured on a daily basis during that time. The NJVVMF's most important project is the Biography Project, which is actively collecting biograph- ical information on the men and women who are listed on the Memorial. Photographs, stories, and tributes are requested so that the memories of those who gave their lives in Vietnam are preserved forever. With the goal to teach the next generations about the life and story of each person listed on the Memorial, Taggart said, "We're The Museum & Educational Center. Within the museum, two historic timelines cover the walls. One depicts the activity in Vietnam, while the other shows events happening con-currently in the United States. The timeline serves as a representation of the political, military, social, and cultural elements in play during the Vietnam era. Several touch screen computers along the timeline provide an interactive display. continued on page 58 Jill Ocone

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