Vietnam Veterans Poetry Celebration Planned in Teaneck

Submitted by Paula Rogovin: 

Postponed by Hurricane Sandy and Blizzard Nemo, the Puffin Poetry Jam’s 40th anniversary celebration of the publication of Winning Hearts & Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans is set forSaturday, July 13 at the Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck, NJ. The 7 p.m. performance of poetry and music is a benefit for the Warrior Writers program. $10 suggested donation.

The event will include the grand opening of "Scars and Stitches," a Combat Paper art show that will be on exhibition throughout July. Combat Paper is made from military uniforms transformed into art works by military veterans and family members.

Before the evening event, a writing workshop for active duty service members, veterans of all ages and military family members will be hosted by Warrior Writer coordinators from 4-6 p.m. Please bring a dish for potluck supper. 

Performers at the 7 pm event include Winning Hearts & Minds poets Jan Barry and W.D. Ehrhart; Gerald McCarthy and Peter Mahoney, contributors to Demilitarized Zones, the 1976 sequel; Vietnam vet poets Allen Hinman, Jim Murphy, Walt Nygard, Dayl Wise and Walter Zimmerman; Warrior Writers Nicole Goodwin, Sarah Mess, Jennifer Pacanowski and Eli Wright, a Combat Paper NJ coordinator; plus poet Alison Koffler,  singer/songwriters Tamra Hayden and Frederick "Funkyfreddy" Reed.

Warrior Writers, based in Philadelphia, is a veteran-focused arts organization that fosters artistic exploration and reflection to encourage and support healing and community building. Combat Paper is an arts-oriented veterans’ organization based in San Francisco and with studios at the New Jersey Printmaking Center in Branchburg, NJ. Combat Paper and Warrior Writers have provided workshops and art shows in numerous places across the US, including locally at Bergen Community College, Montclair State University, Newark Public Library and Rutgers University.

Published in 1972 by 1st Casualty Press, a literary collective formed by veterans Jan Barry, Basil T. Paquet and Larry Rottmann, Winning Hearts & Minds debuted with selections reprinted in the New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times Midwest Magazine and other publications. A poem by Jan Barry, “The Longest War,” appeared in A People and A Nation: A History of the United States. Another contributor, W.D. Ehrhart, recently published his 20th book of prose and poetry. Other contributors forged distinguished careers in journalism, education, medicine, law, government service, business and other enterprises.