CONCORD — In the State House Hall of Flags is a small and moving exhibit produced by State Archivist Ashley Miller commemorating the 50th anniversary to the end of the Vietnam War.
With photos by former New Hampshire Union Leader photographers Bob LaPree and Dick Morin and former reporter John Toole to help narrate, the display shows items that were left at the foot of the traveling wall.
It came to New Hampshire in 1990 and moved people to tears. Small flags, clothing patches, plastic flowers were left and it was only by chance that Miller said she came upon these objects, about three months ago just as she was thinking about the 50th anniversary.
As legislators were let out of the House chambers at noon Thursday and headed out into the sunshine with the smell of spring flowers flowing through the Hall of Flags, some paused and looked at the exhibit, which will be on display through Memorial Day.
Rep. Gary Daniels R-Milford, who served in the U.S. Army from 1976 through 1979 and then with the Army National Guard until 1983, was among the legislators who looked at the photos, letters, medals, and other artifacts left at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall when it was displayed in New Hampshire in June of 1990. The wall stayed over through Independence Day before moving on to another city.
Miller said these artifacts surfaced as they prepared to honor the 50th of fall of Saigon, “proving that history is all around us, waiting to bring the past to life.”
Included in the display are photos by LaPree and a story by Toole.
There is also a handout at the exhibit urging people to tell their story to the State Archives, which is an arm of the Secretary of State’s Office.
“Just as these artifacts tell a story, we invite you to share your own … ” and included a QR code to scan “these and many more materials are available at the NH State Archives for research.”
Secretary of State David M. Scanlan said: “This exhibit is full of poignant reminders of the ultimate sacrifice thousands of Veterans made during the Vietnam War. We’re sharing these artifacts with the New Hampshire public to honor their memory and recognize all our state’s Veterans and Service Members.”
Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
More than 58,220 American service members perished in the Vietnam War, including an estimated 3,070 New Hampshire residents.