Vermont
Veterans Town Hall creates space for listening and learning
By Melissa Cooney, WCAX – Sep. 19, 2021 It takes courage to speak, it takes courage to listen. That’s the motto at the Vets Town Hall, which was hosted in Burlington Sunday afternoon. It’s the fourth and final event of its kind in Vermont this summer. At a town hall, all veterans are invited to…
Read MoreWhat Matters This Week: Jon Turner
Lauren Maloney talks with Jon Turner about the Vermont Vets Town Halls held throughout the state over the summer. Watch this piece here.
Read MoreVets Town Halls return after pandemic with first event at Camp Meade
By Jennie Mull, Waterbury Roundabout The sweltering weekend heat and midday sunshine didn’t deter a dedicated collection of U.S. service veterans along with friends and community members from gathering recently on the lawn at Camp Meade in Middlesex for a unique storytelling event. Veterans and audience members sat before the stage in plastic adirondack chairs…
Read MoreVeterans share stories of service at town hall event
By Brianna Borghi, NBC5 – 6:20 PM EDT Jun 27, 2021 MIDDLESEX, Vt. — In Middlesex on Sunday, a town hall brought veterans and community members together to give vets an opportunity to share their experiences while serving our country. For some veterans, sharing their stories of service can be difficult. “What I’m trying to…
Read MoreGiving Back: Veterans Town Halls Encourage Sharing and Listening
“Each year, I’m floored by the generosity and courage of the speakers at this event, and heartened by seeing so many community members willing to come and listen, with warmth and non-judgment,” wrote Eaton after Sunday’s Town Hall. Marty McMahon, who hosted the St. Johnsbury event, said it opened a conversation between veterans and civilians. “We listened to a wide range of perspectives on service and laid the groundwork for some great community dialogue in St. Johnsbury and the area.”
Read MoreVeterans share intimate stories at town hall
Some veterans discussed post-traumatic stress and the difficulties of reintegration; some talked about survivor’s guilt; others described combat in detail. While community members often seemed to hold their breath, eyes stinging and glued to the podium, the room also burst into laughter when confronted with stories of lost toes and being an army cook.
Read MoreWhat Matters This Week: Jon Turner and Kyle Aines
The two veterans talked with Lauren about a series of veteran town halls in Vermont.
Read MoreVermont: Veterans share stories and memories with community
Local vets shared stories and memories about their time in service at the McCarthy Arts Center at St. Michael’s College in Colchester.
“You know I’ve been out of combat since 2006, and it’s something that I still think about regularly; I think that it’s not every really gonna go away, but your relationship to that moment to that experience is what changes,” said Jon Turner, a veteran who attended the Colchester event.
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