On Saturday, February 3, at 1:00 p.m., the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation will host the slide presentation Reflections of Vietnam by Joseph Belardo, at the Vietnam Era Educational Center in Holmdel. Reflections of Vietnam is the first presentation in the series “New Jersey in the Vietnam Era: A Lecture Series Featuring Individuals Who Lived the History.”  This series is supported by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission,  a division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

Joseph Belardo, after graduating from South Plainfield High School, served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 as an Army sergeant.  His unit Battery C, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery, attached to the 3rd Marine Division was known as the “Dusters.”  Their weapon was the M-42 twin 40 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.  During the last 15 years,  Belardo, a resident of South Plainfield and manager of Support Systems a metal fabrication company there, has presented Reflections of Vietnam to more than 20,000 New Jersey High School and college students.  He has been married to Nancy Belardo for more than 32 years and they have three children Mary, Joseph and Patrick.

Reflections of Vietnam  tells the story of a young New Jersey boy stationed on the DMZ in Vietnam. It gives a true account and one-on-one exposure to the Vietnam War. Reflections of Vietnam lands in southern Vietnam in August of 1967 and continues north to the De-Militarized Zone. It walks through Tet 68 and the famous battle of Khe Sanh before returning to New Jersey in August of 1968. Reflections of Vietnam covers the living conditions and every day life in a combat zone, the battles, the friends lost, the homecoming, and the long lasting effects of Agent Orange and PTSD (Post Tramatic Stress Disorder.)

Lecture attendees are asked to RSVP one week prior to the event to (732) 335-0033.  A donation of $5.00 per person is suggested.  The Vietnam Era Educational Center is located adjacent to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial off the Garden State Parkway exit 116.  The Educational Center is regularly open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM. Regular admission is free for veterans and active-duty military personnel.  Regular adult admission is $4.00; student and senior citizen admission is $2.00, and children under 10 are admitted free.