With many civilians isolated from service member and military culture, the Marion VA Medical Center and the SIU Veterans Center decided to honor Veterans' Day by bringing the Vets and their stories to the public.
StorytellersX highlighted the personal stories of a handful of area veterans. The conference was held last night at the Varsity Theatre in Carbondale.
According to a media release from the Marion VAMC, the program "gives Veterans the opportunity to share their stories, challenge stereotypes and misconceptions, foster understanding and connect with their communities.
The VAMC said that research shows a majority of Americans view Veterans "as either broken or heroic … In reality, Veterans are everyday American with diverse experiences and stories to share."
The seven speakers, Dr. Hank Deiters, Angelo Hightower, Francis Pass, John Okerson, Tom Harnes, Martin Parsons, and Christopher Seaman, shared their stories of successful integration back into the civilian community.
