50 Years Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience

Portrait of a Marine Corps veteran in a red cap with an American flag background and biographical text

Portrait of an elderly Army veteran in a green shirt before a U.S. flag, with service history text on the right.

Portrait of a smiling elderly Black veteran seated before a U.S. flag with military honor text.

Portrait of an older man in a blazer with an American flag and military service quote background

Elderly woman seated before an American flag with text about her Army Nurse Corps Vietnam service

Portrait of elderly veteran in suit before a U.S. flag with quote about Army service and Officer Candidate School

Portrait of an elderly U.S. Army veteran in a 173rd Airborne cap, with an American flag background and quote text

Portrait of an elderly man in a suit before an American flag with military service text.

Portrait of an elderly U.S. Marine veteran in a patriotic shirt with an American flag background and tribute text

Portrait of an older man in a blue polo shirt with an American flag backdrop and military quote text

Vietnam War veteran seated before an American flag with text about his Army service and memorial wall volunteering

Portrait of elderly woman in front of an American flag with text about her Women s Army Corps Vietnam service

Portrait of an elderly man beside an American flag with text about his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Portrait of Eddie Swink with an American flag and text about his Vietnam War Air Force service

Older man in glasses sits before an American flag with text about his Coast Guard service during the Vietnam War

Portrait of an older woman in front of a U.S. flag with text about her Air Force service as a flight nurse.

Portrait of an elderly Vietnam veteran seated before an American flag with biography text on the right.

Portrait of a smiling Navy veteran in a suit before an American flag with biographical text in the background

Portrait of an older U.S. Army veteran in a Purple Heart cap against a faded American flag backdrop

Portrait of an older veteran in a plaid shirt with an American flag background and military service text.

Portrait of an older man in a tan suit with an American flag and biographical text about his CIA and Army service.

Portrait of a smiling Vietnam veteran in a suit and Marines cap before an American flag background

Portrait of an older man in a suit before a U.S. flag, with text about his Army and Secret Service career.

Vietnam veteran portrait with American flag backdrop and tribute text about his Army service

Portrait of Barbara Goodwin in blue jacket with U.S. flag backdrop and biographical text about her Air Force nursing service

50 Years Beyond - The Exhibit

January 28, 2023

"The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example." —Benjamin DisraeliFifty years ago, on 27 January 1973, the United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong and North Vietnam formally signed “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam” in Paris. On the evening of 27 January 2023, the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, welcomed the namesakes of their newest exhibit commemorating Virginia's Vietnam ...

Wrapping up the Virginia Vietnam Veteran Project

December 3, 2022

“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.” - Herbert HooverAfter four months of traveling the state of Virginia, photographing, interviewing and documenting 50 Virginia Vietnam Veterans, we are happy to announce the Virginia War Memorial Vietnam Project is almost complete. All that is left to do is to assemble the exhibit.This was the highlight of a challenging year for me. No matter how much the universe threw my way, ...

50 Years and Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience (Phase One)

September 3, 2022

“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” -Harry S. TrumanPhase One of the Virginia War Memorial Vietnam Veteran project is complete. War Memorial Staff (led by Dr Clay Mountcastle), videographer extraordinaire, Pamela Hart Vines and myself (the photographer) spent three days interviewing, documenting and photographing 26 ...

Virginia War Memorial hopes to take Vietnam Veterans display on the road

On 23 May 2024, Journalist Pamela D'Angelo reported on the Virginia War Memorial's closing ceremonies for the Virginia Vietnam Veteran Exhibit.
Embedded in the article is a 3:28 audio that brings to life some of the Vietnam Veterans' voices.

Article

Virginia Women Veterans Week - 21 March 2024

Richmond, VA's CBS Channel 6 News interviewed and featured Laura Hatcher from her Vietnam Veteran exhibit at the Virginia War Memorial on 22 March 2024.

Interview

Richmond Times Dispatch

27 Jan 2023-Virginia War Memorial opens new exhibit focused on Vietnam veterans a half-century after the war. Memorial staff whittled the number [of Vietnam Veterans] to 50, then held interviews and photo and video sessions around the state – partnering with photographer and Navy veteran Laura Hatcher and videographer and Army veteran Pamela Vines – to gather material for the exhibit.

Article

Fleet Reserve Association Today Magazine

In the November 2022 issue of the FRA Today Magazine, the Virginia War Memorial's Vietnam Veteran Project was featured. The Alexandria, VA FRA Headquarters hosted the Memorial Staff and Laura Hatcher Photography for two days while they photographed and interviewed 16 Virginia Vietnam Veterans for the 27 January 2023 exhibit, "50 Years and Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience"

In Memoriam

Picture of Vietnam Veteran Mr. John Jack Frazer

Farewell Mr. Frazer

August 15, 2023

Last fall, I had the honor of supporting an amazing project for the Virginia War Memorial, where a team of us traveled the state photographing and interviewing 50 Virginia Vietnam Veterans. The "50 Years Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience" exhibit that is currently on display in the War Memorial in Richmond, VA, until 2024.It is with a heavy heart that I recently learned that we lost our second Vietnam Veteran, from this esteemed group of fifty. Mr. John "Jack" ...

Goodbye Mr. Smith

June 21, 2023

Goodbye (Tạm biệt) Mr. Smith Last fall, I had the honor of supporting an amazing project for the Virginia War Memorial, where a team of us traveled the state photographing and interviewing 50 Virginia Vietnam Veterans. The "50 Years Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience" exhibit that is currently on display in the War Memorial in Richmond, VA, until 2024.During a recent return visit to the exhibit I was saddened by the news that we lost one of our 50 Vietnam ...