The Macon County Public Library unveiled a new veterans photo gallery on Friday, Nov. 4. The display showcases the work of Highlands photographer Bernard “Bernie” Coulson, who is honoring several Vietnam veterans of Macon County through a portrait exhibit.
After a year of collaborative effort with the library staff and several veteran organizations in the area, Coulson is now shedding light on the stories of several local service members and their experiences throughout the Vietnam War.
Coulson said he heard first-hand from a Marine friend in Georgia about the way he was treated when he returned home to Pennsylvania in 1969. The friend’s brother had advised him not to mention his service in Vietnam because of the hostility aimed at veterans. And, he did experience that hostility he had been warned about.
“My friend’s story is very similar to the experiences of many other military service men and women when they returned home,” Coulson said. “Returning World War I and World War II service men and women came home to parades and accolades. Korean veterans not so much, but in many places the Vietnam veterans were treated with spite and derision. Because of this it was the Vietnam veterans that I wanted to highlight, especially Macon County vets.”
Coulson photographed the local veterans, whose photographs are on display at the library.
“It is my hope that those who visit the exhibit, see these 18 men and one woman as not only family members, friends and neighbors but as true patriots who served their country and in doing so deserve their honored place in history,” he said.
Kristina Moe, adult services assistant at MCPL, said, “We’re always happy to work with artists doing something different in Macon County, so we’re looking forward to hosting the portraits this year and seeing what happens in the future as more people become aware of the project.”
The exhibit will be displayed in the meeting room at the library throughout the month of November. The library will be closed on Friday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. A reception for the exhibit will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 2-3:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. You can find more of Coulson’s work at Mirror Lake Photography on Facebook.
Veterans Day parade
The Veterans Day parade will be held at 10:30 a.m. and travel from Town Hall on Main Street to the gazebo. Lineup for veterans who want to participate begins at 10 a.m. in the lower level parking lot of Town Hall. The Veterans Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the gazebo. Show your patriotic pride by wearing red, white and blue and show appreciation for the men and women who have served in the armed forces.
World War II veteran Ray Welch will be the grand marshal.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Franklin High School Fine Arts Center.
Veterans Portrait Project
The Macon County Art Association will present its annual Veterans Portrait Project on Friday, Nov. 11 at Uptown Gallery. The program is set to begin at noon, following the Veterans Day program at the gazebo. The veterans will be presented their portraits by local volunteer artists. The public is invited to attend the program at the gallery.