News

The Peters Township Public Library will welcome Denver Brunsman to present Hamilton, Washington, and the Creation of the United States on Thursday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m. Register here or call 724.941.9430 #1.

As Hamilton: An American Musical makes clear, it was crucial for Alexander Hamilton to have George Washington “on his side.” Brunsman will discuss the collaboration between Hamilton and Washington in creating the United States from the Revolutionary War and Constitutional Convention to launching the federal government and America’s financial system. Twenty-five years Washington’s junior, Hamilton acted as both a surrogate son and equal to the nation’s first president. Together, they made history in helping to shape our country as we know it. The talk will weave references to songs from Hamilton and the national traveling exhibition, Alexander Hamilton: Immigrant, Patriot, Visionary, which will be on display during library hours from Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, July 7.

Using primarily reproductions from the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s renowned collections, and drawing on recent scholarship about Alexander Hamilton, the traveling exhibition will examine Hamilton’s role during the Revolutionary War and Founding period (1774-1804) in creating the economic, constitutional, social, journalistic, political, and foreign policy templates for modern America. It will acquaint visitors with a statesman and visionary whose life inspired discussion and controversy and shaped the America we live in two hundred years after his death. The exhibit from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is made possible by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Denver Brunsman, Associate Professor in the History Department at George Washington University, where his courses include “George Washington and His World,” teaches annually at Mount Vernon. He is a coauthor of a leading college and AP U.S. History textbook, Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People and an e-book, Leading Change: George Washington and Establishing the Presidency. The recipient of numerous teaching honors, Brunsman was inducted into the George Washington University Academy of Distinguished Teachers in 2016.

To commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Tet Offensive and to delve more deeply into our veterans’ experiences and perspectives, the Peters Township Public Library will partner with the Veterans Breakfast Club for a unique panel discussion.

On Monday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m., four Vietnam veterans will meet to share their thoughts about the documentary series The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick, focusing on Episodes 1 and 6. The discussion will be moderated by Todd DePastino, founder and executive director of the Veterans Breakfast Club. Register online to attend the discussion or call 724.941.9430 #1.

The four veterans on the panel will include:

George Dvorznak who served with the Army in Vietnam from May 1967 – May 1968 as the commander of the 229th Supply & Service Co. in Long Binh near Saigon.

Ron Worstell who was drafted into the Army in March 1968. He served as a radio operator with the 1st Infantry Division west of Saigon from September 1968 – June 1969. Worstell has returned to Vietnam twice, once for humanitarian work, and serves as a volunteer at The Wall Washington D.C.

As Duquesne University ROTC graduate, Ed Blank shipped with the Army’s 40th Signal Battalion to Vietnam in August 1966 and then became the commander of the 267th Signal Company while in country. Based for much of the time in Qui Nhon, Blank’s company traveled much digging trenches and setting up poles for the miles of telephone line needed to connect the far-flung Army forces.

Andy Nigut served with the Marine Corps—2nd Battalion, 5th Marines—in I Corps near the DMZ in 1968, when he was grievously wounded by an enemy rocket attack. After a long recovery, Andy became a counselor, and, with other young combat veterans, wrestled with the VA to create street-level counseling outreach that today is known as the Vets Center.

The Peters Township Public Library will offer free screenings of The Vietnam War Episodes 1 and 6 for persons interested in viewing a portion of the ten-part, 18-hour documentary series prior to the April 6 program. No registration is needed to attend any of the free screenings.

Episode 1 “Déjà vu” (1858 – 1961): After a century of French occupation, Vietnam emerges independent but divided.  Running time: One hour and 23 minutes

• Monday, March 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 21 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Monday, April 2 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Episode 6 “Things Fall Apart” (January 1968 – July 1968): Shaken by the Tet Offensive, assassinations and unrest, America seems to be coming apart. Running time: One hour and 25 minutes

• Monday, March 26 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 28 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 29 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 4 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.