NEH Discussion Group Overview
Legacies of War: Memorials and Memories of the American Civil War and the Vietnam War is a public humanities initiative hosted by National University. This program aims to inspire individuals to engage critically with humanities sources to discuss war and its remembrance. The program works from the premise that wars have lasting legacies. The American Civil War (1861-1865) left an indelible mark on the landscape and public awareness with a vast array of monuments that encourage certain ways to remember that war. Those monuments and memorials continue to shape collective memory and public discourse. In today’s complex social landscape, these monuments evoke diverse perspectives and intense debates over their meaning, their place in public spaces, and the stories they tell. The legacies of the war in Vietnam are equally complex and multifaceted. The war deeply influenced American society, its politics and foreign policy. The end of the war in 1975 led to a large emigration of South Vietnamese peoples to the United States. Many veterans now return to Vietnam seeking self-healing and to help build where they once destroyed. Monuments to the Vietnam War have also sparked controversy and shape collective memory and public dialogue. The Legacies of War program addresses how these wars are remembered, memorialized, or forgotten. We invite you to join us for an engaging exploration of the enduring significance of war monuments and memorials in a forum where participants can explore essential humanities resources related to the remembrance of war and share meaningful conversations about personal and collective memories of war through facilitated discussions.
Participants explore a diverse range of materials focusing on the American Civil War and the Vietnam War which highlights themes of personal memories, memory landscapes, selective memory/willful forgetting, and trauma and memory. The legacies of these wars continue to shape cultural and political landscapes in the U.S. today. The close connection between the humanities and ideas of social responsibility makes the use of the arts in all forms a particularly fertile arena for the discussion of war and how it is remembered. Artists of all kinds, including writers, painters, photographers, filmmakers, and musicians, create bridges between veterans and civilians, and between previous generations and those to come and influence the collective memory of war.
The program advances the idea that reading and discussing humanities texts about how wars are commemorated or forgotten in a supportive intellectual environment can help U.S. military veterans and civilians reflect more deeply about the issues raised by war and compare their experiences and memories to the experiences and memories of people from other times and places. Project readings include historical monographs, fiction, memoirs, graphic novels, commentaries, speeches, visual artifacts, podcasts, and recorded public meetings. They uncover men and women’s memories of the battlefield and the homefront.
We look forward to welcoming all community members. Civilians, veterans, active-duty personnel, and military affiliated individuals, regardless of branch, years of service, deployment history, disability status, age, race, or gender are invited to participate in this program.
Participation in the program and all books are provided free.
Groups are forming now for January 2026.
Discussion groups meet online twice per month for two hours each time over five months. Groups are forming for Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Pacific Time and Saturday afternoon at 1:00-3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Participants in all time zones are welcome, please adjust the time for your region.
Saturday Discussion Group Meets: January 24, February 7 & 21, March 7 & 21, April 4 & 18 and May 2, 16, & 30 (virtual tour of Andersonville).
Thursday Discussion Group Meets: January 29, February 12 & 26, March 12 & 26, April 9 & 23, and May 7 & 21, & June 4 (virtual tour of Andersonville).
Sign up for Thursday evening or Saturday afternoon by clicking on the link Continue to the application.
NEH Discussion Leaders
NEH Discussion Leaders are experienced facilitators—veterans and civilians—dedicated to guiding conversations on war, its memory, and its impact on societies past and present. They foster understanding, empathy, and critical reflection among diverse groups. Their goal is to deepen awareness, challenge assumptions, and inspire action, enriching participants’ understanding of war’s complex legacy and the human experience.
Please contact Dr. Lorna Zukas at (858) 642-8437 or by email to legaciesofwar@nu.edu with any questions. Applications are currently being accepted. Group size is limited, and registration is first-come, first-served. Applications are due December 1, 2025. Continue to the application.
