Congressman Larsen to visit A War Never Ends exhibition at San Juan Islands Museum of Art

— from Diane Martindale for San Juan Islands Museum of Art —

Congressman Rick Larsen will visit the opening of A War Never Ends presentedby the San Juan County Vietnam veterans and American Legions at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA).

Following the exhibition tour on Saturday, April 6 at 3:15 pm, Larsen will talk informally with veterans, their families and visitors.

The images and writings in this exhibition exemplify all the photographs taken by armed amateurs during the Vietnam War. These are personal artifacts that provide literal snapshots of their transient time and experiences and serve as complicated emotional mementos.

Congressman Larsen has served on the House Armed Services Committee since 2001. He states, “The Committee has oversight of the Department of Defense (DOD) and is tasked with providing our women and men in the military the resources they need to keep our nation safe.” He also serves on the Veterans caucus, National Defense University-Strategic Policy Forum, arts caucus and addiction, treatment and recovery caucus, as well as the Navy-Marine corps caucus, oceans and Puget Sound caucuses. Veterans make up about 10% of the population in the county, thus these are important issues to our region.

SJIMA presents the new shows so that the personal stories and the stresses of the men and women sent to fight in the Vietnam War not be sidelined by history. The lessons are timeless. And so are the ramifications on body, mind, spirit, family, friends and the future.

In the main gallery, MY WAR: Wartime Photographs by Vietnam Veterans captures the in-between moments of life in Vietnam. The goal of the exhibits is to honor the courage and the accomplishments and the suffering, the silence and the struggle of the war.

This exhibition is sponsored by the Dave and Nancy Honeywell Charitable Fund and Gary and Susan Sterner, Printonyx, Harbor Rental and Browne’s Home Center.

All veterans are admitted free of charge for these exhibitions. Also, free of charge to all, is the talk on Sunday, April 7 from 1-3 p.m. at the Grange. Vietnam war nurse and practicing nurse psychotherapist, Sarah Blum will be addressing PTSD and trauma resolution in her presentation, A Journey Back To Vietnam. All having dealt with PTSD, whether from military service or any other traumatic experience, are invited.

MY WAR: Wartime Photographs by Vietnam Veterans and A War Never Ends run from April 5 – June 3, 2019.

Regular museum admission is $10 with SJIMA members and those 18 and under entering free of charge. Hours are Friday-Monday 11-5 and summer hours starting May 23 are Thursday-Monday 11-5. Mondays are Pay As You Can Days.

Contact: Diane Martindale 360-370-5814 or diane.martindale@rockisland.com