HOLMDEL, NJ - The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation will host the oral history presentation A Long Time Coming by Robert Maras, at the Vietnam Era Educational Center in Holmdel on Thursday, May 17, 2001, at 7:00 p.m.  A Long Time Coming is part of the eight-part 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.

 Maras of Lakehurst, served with the United States Marine Corps with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, in Vietnam from 1966 to1967.  For 31 years after his tour of duty, he was plagued by a haunting that accompanied his every step and invaded his sleep.  He became involved with the Vietnam Veterans of America, received counseling, and lectured in his community about the Vietnam conflict.  These activities helped, but it would take a pilgrimage back to Vietnam to finally sever the remaining ghost strings still tugging at Maras’ conscience.

 In 1998, Maras took the opportunity to participate in an adventure .  A special bicycle tour organized by World Team Sports included other Vietnam veterans and was led by the bicycling legend, Greg LeMond.  It was to be a 1,200 mile, 16 day bicycle trip.  It started in Hanoi and ended in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).  It was called “The Vietnam Challenge,” and for Maras it was a challenge in more ways than one.  Since this tour, Maras has returned to Vietnam to further his healing process, and has traveled to Laos to assist in the retrieval of the remains of two American soldiers.

A Long Time Coming is Maras’ testimony—his story of one New Jerseyan who went to war keeping New Jersey close to his heart, only to find that when he returned home, it was the Vietnam he’d prefer to forget that ruled his heart and mind.

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 at 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.