Exploring Stories of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

By Laura Lombardi

The Wellington Public Library will host a special presentation exploring the experiences of a new generation of veterans and the importance of preserving their stories.

Murl Riedel, a retired major in the Kansas Army National Guard who currently serves as chief of staff for the Kansas Highway Patrol in Topeka, will present “A New Generation of Veterans: Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan” on Thursday, November 19, at 5:30 p.m.

The free program will be held at the Wellington Public Library, 121 W. Seventh Street. Light refreshments will be served, and members of the community are invited to attend.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan created a new generation of veterans whose experiences challenged traditional views of military service and raised questions about America’s role in global conflicts. Kansas soldiers were among the first deployed to fight in both conflicts, returning multiple times as the wars continued.

“I served in Iraq, which is why talking about this is so important to me,” Riedel said.

Although modern communication platforms allowed veterans to stay connected with family and friends, many of their experiences remain undocumented in a lasting written record.

“Even 25 years later, many of these stories remain untold,” Riedel said. “My intent is to encourage the average citizen to have conversations with these veterans about their experiences.”

Riedel’s presentation will examine key events of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and explore ways to collect, preserve and share the stories of those who served so future generations can better understand their experiences.

The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.