This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War (1975-2025). Congress and President Obama established a Vietnam War Commemoration in 2012. Since that time, the nation has honored veterans and their families for service and sacrifice but also examined the shortcomings of our involvement in Vietnam. The war was lost politically before it ever began militarily due to the intricacies of the Civil War in Vietnam and their long fight for freedom from colonial powers. In the United States, the period from 1955-1975 became a pivotal chapter in American history that reshaped a generation, tested the nation’s conscience, and changed the way we responded to global threats. The West Baton Rouge Museum’s exhibit highlights the stories of several local service men and women during the Vietnam War.