A couple of months ago, we wrote a blog post about one of our authors, Art Wiknik, writer of Nam Sense: Surviving Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, and his participation in the HISTORY channel’s series Vietnam in HD. Just recently, Art traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the Veteran’s Day ceremonies at the Vietnam Memorial and was kind enough to share his experience with us:
“My involvement with the History Channel began in December 2011 when Reda Productions of Easton, PA sought me as a possible participant for the new Vietnam in HD series to fill the need for a Hamburger Hill veteran. Two separate telephone interviews eventually led to an on-camera interview. In July, I was sent to Beverly Hills to take part in the unveiling of the documentary at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. Then in October, I was called upon to join the History Channel and the VVMF (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund) in Times Square, New York to help promote the joint “Call For Photos” campaign of gathering photographs of everyone whose name is etched on the Vietnam Memorial. The photos are being entered into a data base and will be an integral component of the new Education Center that will be built near the Vietnam Memorial.
Immediately following the Vietnam in HD television premier, the History Channel invited all the profiled characters and their spouses to Washington D.C. to attend the Veteran’s Day ceremonies at the Vietnam Memorial. This was my first trip to Washington D.C. since I was a boy. As part of the ceremony, I was selected to place a wreath at the Vietnam Memorial along with former UPI war correspondent and author Joseph Galloway. This was a very humbling experience and I was proud to be a representative of my generation of warriors. While visiting the wall, it was also very gratifying to be recognized by those who watched Vietnam in HD.
On Veteran’s Day evening, we attended a dinner sponsored by the History Channel and VVMF. Guest speakers included national radio host Rusty Humphries, whose father died in Vietnam, Vietnam veteran and the Vietnam Memorial founder Jan Scruggs, Former U.S. Senator and Vietnam veteran Chuck Hagel, and actor Tom Selleck who served in the National Guard and lost two close friends in Vietnam.
Our stay in Washington D.C. was structured around a fairly tight schedule so my wife and I were not able to take full advantage of the occasion. However, we plan to visit Washington again after the education center is built. When we returned home, I had nearly 70 emails and 10 phone calls from total unknowns who watched Vietnam in HD. I also noticed that there was a considerable jump in my Nam Sense book sales.
I cannot thank the History Channel enough for including me in this project. Everyone involved were professional, knowledgeable and cared about putting out a memorable product.”
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