Graphic novel reading group | Wisconsin Veterans Museum

From the Wisconsin Veterans Museum:


The Wisconsin Veterans Museum, in partnership with Jessica Gross, a Public Humanities Exchange Scholar with the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities, is launching a graphic novel reading group for veterans.  Participants will meet twice a month (evenings) in downtown Madison to discuss readings from war-themed graphic novels.

Through both true-to-life and fictional stories of combat, Jessica hopes to open up a dialogue on war and power among veterans. All veterans are welcome to participate, but combat veterans and those with recent service in Iraq and Afghanistan are encouraged to attend. All books will be provided by a grant received from the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Curator of Education Jennifer Kollath at Jennifer.kollath@dva.wisconsin.gov.

Rhyming the time away in Iraq

From PFC. Junior Buchanan of Madison, who is 6,415 miles from home serving in a Wisconsin National Guard unit at Camp Cropper, Iraq.

I came with the 32nd and I'm doing detainee ops just like the rest. I was deployed right after completion of my AIT (Advanced Individual Training). I was only home for 5 or 6 days before going on orders. I didn't know till the last minute that I was getting deployed -- kinda sucked but i cooperated with it. It was hard, but it's part of the job I guess.

I have been writing my own music since I was about 12 or 13 with my cousins. Writing music helps make my time here pass faster and a little more enjoyable. My family has a lot of musical talent in it -- singing and also hip hop (rap) and dancing.

Thank you for taking interest in my songs. I love what I do and take pride in making it sound good. I was on active duty orders before I joined the guard. did basic AIT and now Iraq. When I get home for good I would have been back and forth only spending a week or two or a few days at home for about a year and 6 months.

- Junior