Vermont Edition’s Mikaela Lefrak interviewed Vietnam veterans Maureen Dwyer and Perry Melvin on Veterans Day 2024. This episode focuses on Dwyer’s and Melvin’s experiences in Vietnam, and Maureen also shares her experiences speaking at Vets Town Halls. Towards the end of the episode, Vets Town Hall emcee and board member Jon Turner discusses our programming….
In this Vermontitude video webcast, host Peter “Fish” Case chats with guest Dr. Bob Tortolani about the Vets Town Hall at the American Legion Brattleboro Post 5. Watch this ten-minute interview here.
We are honored that Vets Town Hall is a member of the inaugural Partnership Grants cohort for 2024-2026. This program aids long-term humanities initiatives of Vermont nonprofit organizations, and will be an important source of funding for our programming in upcoming years. Learn more about this program here, and read about our fellow grant recipients…
Six Vets Town Halls took place throughout the year – twice as many as in 2022 – including first events in South Burlington (in the spring), Bradford, Brattleboro, and South Royalton; our fifth year in Rutland, and our sixth year in Colchester/Burlington. Thank you to these publications for helping to get the word out! 2023’s…
On Sunday, April 2nd, 2023, community members gathered at an event where family members of veterans were invited to speak about their experiences. Everyone – veterans, family, and nonveterans – was encouraged to attend and listen. “I have often felt that the burdens of war weigh heavier upon our families back home,” says event emcee…
Colchester, VT– Veterans and families of veterans gathered on St. Michael’s campus at the ‘Family Vets Town Hall’ where attendees shared their experiences. Veterans typically share stories at the town hall events, but Sunday was the first day that family members of veterans were invited to speak as well. Read more.
Interviews with hosts and speakers, and event coverage Pre-event coverage:
The fledgling national organization will provide support to local organizers and host a calendar of events at vetstownhall.org, with the goal of helping to establish annual Vets Town Halls in every state — and eventually in every community — in the United States. The organization also directly coordinates Vets Town Halls here in Vermont. Junger…
Sebastian Junger, bestselling author and co-director of the Afghanistan war documentary “Restrepo,” has launched a nonprofit organization — registered in Vermont — that aims to connect veterans and non-veterans through community events. The organization, called Vets Town Hall, will provide resources for any person or organization who wants to host a gathering where attendees can…
After a hiatus in 2020, Vermont’s Vets Town Halls returned with four outdoor events.
2019 was our third year in Chittenden County (and the year we moved from Contois to McCarthy Arts Center at Saint Michael’s College). Community College of Vermont again hosted a Vets Town Hall in Rutland, and added a location in Saint Johnsbury.
In 2018 we returned to Burlington’s Contois Auditorium – this year with Jon Turner emceeing the event – and Kyle Aines and Community College of Vermont ran the first Vets Town Hall in Rutland.