Illinois woman creates exhibits honoring Vietnam veterans

CHESTER, Ill. (AP) - A woman in southwest Illinois has created a series of exhibits that tell the stories of soldiers who died or went missing during the Vietnam War.

Julie Gangloff created a series of six exhibits called Never Forgotten that will be featured in several libraries and the Randolph County courthouse, The Southern Illinoisan reported.

Gangloff compiled a list of soldiers from the county over the last two years. The exhibit features newspaper articles and personal artifacts shared by the families of the soldiers.

"These men paid with their lives. The least that the can do is be honored when the county they lived in wants to honor them," Gangloff said.

Among the soldiers featured are Pfc. Leonard A. Nitzsche, who died in 1970, and Lance Cpl. Charles W. Rader, who died two years earlier. The men are now united in family: Nitzshe's sister, Linda, married Rader's brother, Russell Rader. The couple say they grew up in families who supported the troops.

Gangloff said she created the exhibits to ensure the veterans' families that their community hasn't forgotten about them.

Along with the county courthouse, the will be displayed through the end of the month in libraries in Chester, Steeleville, Coulterville, Sparta and Red Bud.

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Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com