Welcome Remarks for "Vietnam: The Tet Offensive"
Good evening, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 very pleased you could join us, whether you鈥檙e here with us in the theater or joining through YouTube.
At the end of this month, we mark the 50th anniversary of one of the key events of the Vietnam War鈥攖he Tet Offensive. Tonight we鈥檒l hear from a panel of experts about its consequences in Vietnam and in the United States. Our partner for this program is the U.S. Army Center of Military History, and we thank them for their support.
We are honored to have former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel as our keynote speaker for today鈥檚 panel discussion of the Tet Offensive.听 Following the discussion, Erik Villard will sign copies of his book, Combat Operations.
But before we start, I want to let you know about two other programs coming up soon.
Tomorrow at noon, constitutional law professor Gerard Magliocca will be here to talk about his new book, The Heart of the Constitution: How the Bill of Rights became the Bill of Rights.
And on Thursday, February 1, at 7 p.m., we will partner with the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress for a program called 鈥淢eet the Better Half: Congressional Partners, Spouses, and Families.鈥�
To learn more about these and all of our public programs and exhibits, consult our Calendar of Events online at Archives.gov. You can also sign up at the table outside the theater to get email updates.
Another way to get more involved with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Pick up your application for membership in the lobby or become a member online at archivesfoundation.org.
Tonight鈥檚 program is part of a series of discussions, films, lectures, and other programs that tie into our current special exhibit, 鈥淩emembering Vietnam,鈥� in the Lawrence F. O鈥橞rien Gallery upstairs.
The exhibit is a fascinating collection of newly discovered and iconic original documents, images, film footage, and artifacts that illuminate 12 critical episodes in the war that divided the peoples of both the United States and Vietnam.
One of those episodes focuses on the Tet Offensive. Documents and photographs from the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and its Presidential libraries describe the attacks and their consequences. A particular blow to American public opinion of the war was the Viet Cong infiltration of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, represented in the exhibit by a map of the defense of the embassy and a memo describing the breach.
If you haven鈥檛 already gone through the exhibit, I encourage you to return and spend some time there. 鈥淩emembering Vietnam鈥� explores the war not only through documents but also through interviews with American and Vietnamese veterans and civilians with first-hand experience of the war鈥檚 events.
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Now I ask all Vietnam veterans or any United States veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, to stand and be recognized.
Veterans, as you exit the McGowan Theater after today鈥檚 program, 威尼斯人娱乐场 staff and volunteers will present each of you with the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin. On the back of the pin is embossed:听听 鈥淎 Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.鈥�
The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a national initiative, and the lapel pin is the nation鈥檚 lasting memento of thanks.
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To get our discussion started, I鈥檒l turn the lectern over to Charles R. Bowery, Jr., who is the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Department of the Army. A retired colonel, Charles Bowery was commissioned to the aviation branch of the U.S. Army in 1988. He has seen service in the Pentagon and also served overseas in Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He taught history at West Point from 2001 to 2003 and served as the Chief of Doctrine and Lessons Learned at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Charles R. Bowery, Jr.
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