Vets Town Hall – Colchester 2024

All are invited to a Vets Town Hall at the McCarthy Arts Center on Sunday, November 10th at 1pm in Colchester, Vermont. Veterans are invited to speak about what their service means to them. Non-veterans are encouraged to attend and listen. This event is non-political, and all perspectives are valued. There will be no debate on American foreign policy.

Please click here to RSVP. (RSVPs are optional, but encouraged.) Snacks will be available.

There may be an optional question-and-answer period with some of the speakers at the end of the event.

For all attendees: All community members are invited to this event. Only veterans will speak, but non-veterans are encouraged to attend and listen.

Throughout the event, you may hear something you agree or disagree with. You may have a question. Or you may want to say encouraging words with the intention to help. However, we ask that you please refrain from responding. We are simply here to listen and learn about what it was like to serve in the wars that this nation has chosen to fight.

For speakers: Tell us what your service means to you. Please tell us about your own experiences, whatever they may be, rather than speaking broadly about an issue or organization. You’re a member of our community, and it’s your stories, reflections, and insights that we’re anxious to hear.

Each veteran will be given up to 10 minutes to speak. (This time may vary somewhat depending on how many interested speakers we have.) Veterans who would like to speak can RSVP here. If you’re considering speaking but prefer not to register, we encourage you to attend. After pre-registered speakers go, the host will take speakers from the floor, time permitting. The goal is for every veteran who would like to speak to have a chance to do so.

Of course, veterans (and all community members) are also welcome to simply attend and listen.

If you’re interested in speaking but aren’t sure what to speak about, click here for some questions that can serve as starting points.

Directions:
From Burlington: Approaching from downtown Burlington on Colchester Avenue, follow signs for Rte 15 East at Winooski Center. Take Rte 15 East approximately 1 mile to the Saint Michael’s College – South Entrance on left.

From North of Burlington: Take Interstate 89 South to Exit 16. Take right off exit, follow Route 7 south to junction of Route 15 (center of Winooski) Follow Route 15 East approximately 1 mile to the Saint Michael’s College – South Entrance on left.

From South of  Burlington: Take Interstate 89 North to Exit 15. Bear right off of Exit 15, Interstate 89 and get into left lane. At the first set of lights, take a left into the parking lot.

Shortly after you enter Saint Michael’s Campus, McCarthy Arts Center will be on your right.

Parking: Free parking will be available for the event. There’s a large lot to the west (left) of McCarthy Arts Center, and additional parking further west along Campus Road, surrounding the Tarrant and Ross Sports Centers, as well as elsewhere on campus. You do not need a permit to park on Saint Michael’s campus during this event. Please consider arriving early to give yourself time to find a space: There should be plenty of parking on campus, but we do overlap a little with the SMC late-morning mass, so it’s good to allow for some extra time. Please consider parking further away if that’s comfortable for you, so that spaces closer to the Arts Center will be available for those with mobility concerns.

Community Partners

Jon Turner will host the event. Jon served with the Marines between 2003-2007 and deployed to Haiti, Fallujah and Ramadi, Iraq. Since his discharge, he has traveled extensively and worked with various communities to assist in the veteran reintegration process from paper-making to outdoor recreation and farming. In 2014, Jon began to utilize the agricultural landscape as a classroom for community members interested in resilient food systems through service learning projects, internships, and site visits for K-12, college students, and military veterans. Jon is the founding and former chair of the Vermont state chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, recipient of the National Farm to School Innovations Grant, Sierra Club Military Outings Leader, and currently operates Wild Roots Community Farm in Bristol.

The mission of the Saint Michael’s College Student Veterans Association is to empower veterans to make a positive transition from the military on to the Saint Michael’s Campus as well as into the community.

Thank you to:

• Jon Turner, for hosting the event
• Saint Michael’s College Military Community Services and Student Veterans Association, our venue sponsors and local event partners
• Cabot Cheese, Chapin Orchard, Dakin Farm, Krin’s Bakery, and the SMC Military Community Services and Student Veterans Association for providing snacks
• Vermont Veterans Outreach Program for attending and being available to provide peer support
• This event is supported in part by the Vermont Humanities. (Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Vermont Humanities or any other supporting organization.)
• …and the many individuals and organizations who have offered advice, feedback, and support