When Saigon fell in 1975, so ended one of America’s most controversial conflicts – the Vietnam War. For many Virginians, however, there remained a feeling of disconnectedness which was to endure for decades. Members of the public, divided over America’s participation in the war, were reluctant to ask questions of veterans, while service members resisted volunteering information and much of the government’s war policy remained classified. Even now, no agreed upon narrative of the war exists. Public opinion polls indicate that many Americans concluded that the war was a mistake, while a majority of veterans felt proud of their service, and numerous refugees and immigrants from Vietnam made the U.S. their home. Through this display, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) aims to restore Virginians’ connection with this pivotal moment in our history while honoring those who felt the impact of the war long after it ended.

Marine at Da Nang, 1965 (Photo: National Archives)
On the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, now is the time to ask new questions about Virginia and the Vietnam War. This display will provide guests access to the VMHC's collected oral histories. It will invite guests to immerse themselves in the choices, perspectives, and experiences of Virginians during the Vietnam War era, and to consider the long-term impact of the conflict on the politics, culture, and population of the Commonwealth in order to help facilitate untapped understandings about this tumultuous time.