WOOSTER – The 2024 Ed Arn Veterans’ Roundtable will be held on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in the schoolhouse on the campus of the Wayne County Historical Society, 546 E. Bowman St., in Wooster. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the panel will consist exclusively of Vietnam veterans who will share their experiences in an open dialogue of questions and answers. The event is free and open to the public.
The veteran panelists include Nevin Nussbaum, Bob Romig, and Ken Kitchen, all of whom served in the United States Army, and Russ David and Mark Siedel, who served in the United States Marine Corps. This is the first time any of these veterans has participated in the roundtable event.
The historical society currently also has a Vietnam exhibit on display in the Kister Building, which will be open to the public free of charge before the event.
“Marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, this is a particularly important roundtable,” said historical society board member Jeff Musselman. “Vietnam affected so many families in the Wayne County area, and it’s only right that we gather to remember those veterans from this community. Hearing them share their experiences in Vietnam is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for the public, and I think very fitting moving into Memorial Day weekend.”
The Ed Arn Veterans’ Roundtable was begun by the Wayne County Historical Society as a forum for veterans to share their experiences with the public. It was named in honor of the late Ed Arn, a captain in the United States Army during World War 2 and avid supporter of the historical society, because he felt it was important for veterans – and particularly enlisted men – to be heard.
The Wayne County Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of Wayne County, Ohio. Founded in 1904, today the Historical Society operates a campus with eight buildings, including a pioneer-era log house, a mid-19th century general store, and the Beall-Stibbs House, begun in 1816 and completed in the early 1820s by War of 1812 veteran General Reasin Beall. The Historical Society offers tours from March through December, on Saturdays at 1 and 2:30 p.m., or by appointment. Learn more at waynehistoricalohio.org or call 330.264.8856.
