Looking back at 2025
Over the first two weeks of November 2025, more than three hundred people came together at seven events across Vermont to listen to over fifty veterans share their experiences. To make these events happen and help get the word out, we’ve had dozens of community partners, and at least twenty-five news stories featured this year’s Vets Town Halls. We also held our second-ever Family Vets Town Hall in September – an initiative we’ll continue in 2026.
If any of those numbers includes you – as an attendee, a speaker, or a community partner – thank you. What you helped make happen goes far beyond numbers. There have been many new speakers, and stories shared that had never been shared before. Others who have spoken in past years returned and talked about their ongoing progress and challenges. Friends have reconnected, new connections have been made, and communities have come together in person to really listen to each other. Each of you has been a part of this.
Here are images from a few of these events. There are several images for most of these, and you can scroll through by clicking on the arrows to the left and right of each photo.
Central Vermont Vets Town Hall: 11/2 at the State House in Montpelier
Vermont’s State House (Credit: Jim Eaton)
VTH deputy director Kristen Eaton and her mom, Susan Eaton, during set-up (Credit: Jim Eaton)
A guest checks in. Emcee James Ehlers and VTH deputy director Kristen Eaton in the background. (Credit: Jim Eaton)
A guest shows off the bounteous donation from Positive Pie. (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Guests line up to enjoy pizza donated by Positive Pie (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Snack packs of cheddar donated by Cabot (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Delicious treats donated by Skinny Pancake (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Refreshments donated by Hunger Mountain Co-op and Capital Grounds Cafe (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Enjoying refreshments in the cafe before the event (Credit: Jim Eaton)
VTH speaker Thom Anderson (Credit: Jim Eaton)
VTH speaker Maureen Dwyer (Credit: Jim Eaton)
VTH speaker Marlon Fisher (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Enjoying refreshments in the cafe before the event (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Conversations in the cafe before the event. At right, event co-sponsor Lt. Gov. John Rodgers (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Conversations before the event (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Press getting set up before the event (Credit: Jim Eaton)
The house chamber. (Credit: Catherine Eaton)
Emcee James Ehlers (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Marlon Fisher speaks at the Vets Town Hall 2025 at the Vermont State House. (Credit: John Lazenby)
VTH speaker Scott Wood (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Scott Wood, US Army paratrooper veteran at the Montpelier Vets Town Hall at the Vermont State House 2025. (Credit: John Lazenby)
VTH speaker Maureen Dwyer (Credit: Jim Eaton)
VTH speaker Maureen Dwyer and emcee James Ehlers (Credit: Catherine Eaton)
Maureen L. Dwyer, who served as an Army nurse in Vietnam, speaks at the Vets Town Hall 2025 at the Vermont State House. (Credit: John Lazenby)
VTH speaker Peter S. Ladenack (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Peter S. Ladenack, Vermont Air National Guard veteran, speaks at the Vets’ Town Hall 2025, Vermont State House. (Credit: John Lazenby)
VTH speaker Thom Anderson (Credit: Jim Eaton)
VTH speaker Joe Major (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Sen. Joe Major, D-Windsor, speaks at the Vets Town Hall, 2025, Vermont State House. (Credit: John Lazenby)
VTH speaker Marlon Fisher (Credit: Jim Eaton)
VTH speaker Maureen Dwyer (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Conversations after the event (Credit: Jim Eaton)
Conversations after the event (Credit: Jim Eaton)
State Sen. Joe Major, left, and Marlon Fisher, both veterans. (Credit: John Lazenby)
Misha Pemble-Belkin at the Vets Town Hall, Vermont State House. (Credit: John Lazenby)
Bennington Vets Town Hall at Vermont Veterans’ Home on 11/7
Our venue (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
A speaker at the event (Credit: Vermont Veterans Home)
Rutland Vets Town Hall at the Godnick Adult Center on 11/7
We had to add an extra table, and four half-rows of seating in the back!
Champlain Valley Vets Town Hall in Colchester at Saint Michael’s College on 11/9
Our venue (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
Volunteers from the Saint Michael’s College Student Veterans Association help attendees and speakers check in (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
Emcee Michelle Humphrey (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Brad Cook (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Lynn Shepard (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Lynn Shepard (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Lynn Shepard (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Scott Wood (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Scott Wood (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Scott Wood (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
(Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Thom Anderson (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH speaker Thom Anderson (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH emcee Michelle Caver (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH emcee Michelle Caver helps a speaker to the podium. (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
VTH emcee Michelle Caver (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
Conversations after the event (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
Conversations and appreciation for our generous in-kind donors: Cabot, Chapin Orchard, City Market, and Krin’s Bakery (Credit: Megan Humphrey)
Charlotte Vets Town Hall at the Charlotte Grange Hall on 11/14
(Credit: Lee Krohn)
VTH speaker Malcolm Spencer (Credit: Lee Krohn)
Attendee Sen. Bernie Sanders listens to speaker Malcolm Spencer(Credit: Lee Krohn)
VTH speaker Travis (Credit: Lee Krohn)
VTH speaker Travis (at left) and organizer Tai (at right) speak with Sen. Sanders following the Vets Town Hall (Credit: Lee Krohn)
