New director brings personal experience to Vietnam vet center

New director brings personal experience to Vietnam vet center

Plans call for public education and outreach program
BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer
HOLMDEL — William “Bill” Linderman is standing in the center of exhibit space at the Vietnam Era Educational Center in Holmdel, surrounded by a glass case filled with letters written by soldiers to their parents.

Each letter is handwritten, some expressing regrets, others sending messages of love.

“This really is dedicated to the 80,000 people — veterans — who went to Vietnam from New Jersey,” Linderman said, pointing out that some of the letters were from Neptune, Matawan and other locations in Monmouth County. “Out of that, 1,562 paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

A veteran himself, Linderman, the new executive director of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, understands both the pride and struggle of serving one’s country.

“We like to think of it as a museum and a place where people can come to visit and reflect upon what went on during that time and where we are now,” Linderman said. “People are comparing Afghanistan to Vietnam, and they come here and observe the parallels. One of the important things about this place is that we try to present both sides. We want to include all different points of view because it was such a tumultuous time.”
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New director brings personal experience to Vietnam vet center