(Chelsea Update would like to thank Anna Cangialosi for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea District Library will premier “Vietnam Veterans,” its latest film in the “Stories of Chelsea” series on Veteran’s Day, Monday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m., at the Comfort Inn & Village Conference Center.
“Stories of Chelsea” is an online collection of interviews and photos preserving the stories of life in Chelsea, which include One Room Schoolhouses, WWII Veterans, Farmers, Korean Veterans Village Life, and, the newest installment Vietnam.
In this latest film, filmmaker Rob Coelius of Video Farm Productions documents a collection of perspectives of the war as told by Chelsea area men who fought in Vietnam. It was created to collect recorded interviews with veterans of the Vietnam War as a way of preserving their stories and experiences for future generations.
Bill Harmer, library director, said in a press release that the documentary “draws the reader into the personalities of the soldiers and their struggles to overcome daily challenges,”
The library has spent the last five years on this oral history initiative.
Among the interviews you’ll see are John Glidewell, Milton Wood, Tom Zatkovich, Tom Power, Norman Wetzel, Walt Herndon, Tom Heidtman, Gary Maynard, Dennis Stoffer, Craig Maier, Michael Muha, Jim Alford, Keith Haab, Tony Keezer, Dennis Schumann, Rod Anderson, and Tom Steele.
“Next year, we hope to screen a similar film for World War I veterans,” said Maier, the financial officer from American Legion Post 31, who was involved in the documentary.
Following the premiere, the documentary will be available for online streaming at StoriesofChelsea.org. For more information, call the Chelsea District Library at 475-8732 or visit chelsea.lib.mi.us.
Vietnam Veterans was made possible by the generous support of the Friends of Chelsea District Library, VFW Post 4076, the American Legion, as well as the contributions of many private donors.
