40th Anniversary Celebration of Winning Hearts & Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans
Puffin Poetry Jam hosted powerful a performance by veteran poets as a fundraiser for Warrior Writers on July 13, 2013. Postponed twice, first by Hurricane Sandy and then by Blizzard Nemo, the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the publication of Winning Hearts & Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans at Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck, NJ. was well worth the wait. Veteran poets from the wars in Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan read to an enthusiastic full house. The event also included Warrior Writers workshops for active duty service members, veterans and military family members and the opening of Scars and Stitches, a Combat Paper art show by military veterans and family members
Performers at the evening event included 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; plus poet Alison Koffler, singer/songwriters Tamra Hayden and Frederick "Funkyfreddy" Reed.
