Voices and Echoes

The Minnesota Humanities Center hosts a night at Fort Snelling devoted to the voices we may not always hear.

Sabrina Merritt, Reporter

The Minnesota Humanities Center (MNHUM) has a mission. Amidst excitement for changing colors and Halloween, MNHUM is devoting October to the voices of those who have served our nation. The project Veterans’ Voices uses performance, conversation, and art for veterans to educate the public and challenge inaccurate or glorified narratives of serving. On October 18, veterans came to Minnesota’s historic Fort Snelling to share stories. These storytellers were of different ages and different backgrounds, and all had different stories to tell. By the end of the month, MNHUM hopes this, and similar events will help more Minnesotans take time to reflect on their connections to veterans.

“Human work, the work of stories,” is how Minnesota Humanities staff member Kirk Mackinnon Morrow described the nature of the tasks taken on by the center. MNHUM’s goal is to connect Minnesotans together and to bring attention and understanding to the lesser known stories of our land. Morrow introduced the night by reminding attendees that Fort Snelling is located on sacred land to the Dakota people and that historic violence still affects Native Americans in the state.

Ron Kane was the first to share his story. Kane served in the Vietnam War during the late sixties and believes he will always remember the things he experienced.

“I always carried ammo, food, extra ammo, water, dry socks, and extra ammo,” said Kane, receiving a small laugh from the audience. “You could never have too much ammo.”

Kane described being ambushed by North Vietnam soldiers on his way back to his camp. All he had to do, he recalled, was to head up a hill. Then he would be safe. Kane traveled with his good friend George, the two encouraging each other along the way. George was shot and killed before reaching camp, and Kane carried his body back.
“Why you and not me?” Kane somberly asked the audience. “Why George and not me?”

Each speaker brought complex issues to the discussion. One man spoke of how service changed his sense of identity, as he originally believed enlisting would make him a man. Another spoke of family and nationality, and how war impacts one’s sense of belonging. Another Vietnam veteran spoke of the poor treatment and discrimination of the Vietnamese by American soldiers. Discrimination in the military was also acknowledged.

“I felt like a foreign object, I felt like I didn’t belong,” said Lindsey Erdmann on the topic of being a female in the military. Erdmann felt humiliated by her superiors on many occasions, as many made crude comments about her body. Erdmann described how a superior she had long trusted made comments that she must have achieved her position through interactions with men.

“No human deserves to feel that way,” stated Erdmann, who now devotes her time to working with marginalized groups and ending the stigma of mental illness.

MNHUM is not the only organization reaching out to veterans. Hamline has a Military Student Resource Center for veterans and active service members located in West Hall. Students can find out what education and noneducation benefits are available. The university also has a Military Student Support Committee lead by Dean of Students Patti Klein, with the goal to support military students.