Sarah Taggart has been named executive director for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, Holmdel. Since 2011, Taggart has held progressively senior leadership positions at the foundation.
The memorial, museum and education complex has been drawing more visitors each year, including more students and educators, according to a press release.
Visitors to the complex in Holmdel are using primary source material to connect aspects of culture, politics, economics and art from the Vietnam Era with the present world situation, according to the press release.
“There are so many lessons we can learn from (the Vietnam War) that could help us negotiate some of the dangerous situations we face today, and we just don’t know enough, we haven’t learned those lessons,” said New Jersey native and Vietnam veteran Michael Heaney.
Heaney’s story and perspective are featured in three of the 10 episodes of the recently released documentary by Ken Burns and Lynne Novick, “The Vietnam War.”
Bill Linderman, the foundation’s outgoing executive director, credited Taggart with a number of major accomplishments, including the renovation of the Sepia Mural, a centerpiece of the museum and educational center, according to the press release.
He also recognized her work to update the communications and volunteer programs, improve the integration of technology across the foundation and for improving the grant and corporate giving programs.
Taggart recognized Linderman’s contribution to the 22-year old organization and shared her excitement about the foundation’s upcoming capital campaign. Major campaign goals are to expand the exhibit space and provide a more immersive, engaging and updated experience to visitors, according to the press release.
Taggart holds a master’s in American History from Rutgers University, a master’s in Museum Communications from The University of the Arts and a bachelor’s degree in archaeology from Mercyhurst University.
The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, dedicated May 7, 1995, recognizes the sacrifices, courage and valor of the New Jersey Veterans of the Vietnam Era.
The Vietnam Era Museum and Educational Center, dedicated in September 1998, strives to encourage and foster a thorough understanding of the Vietnam era, including the political, historical, social, cultural and military aspects that affected the United States, especially New Jersey, according to the press release.