‘Welcome Home' series at museum

<p>Lessons from recent history come home to Petaluma as returning veterans of America's recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan tell their stories at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum this month. </p><p>Former Marine Josh Fowler told his story to an audience of family members, veterans and students on Jan. 21, following veterans Tawnya Sharke and Matthew L. Jensen who kicked off the special speaker series on Jan. 14. Fowler will be followed by Jimmy Pera, a special forces veteran, on Saturday, Jan. 28 and James Poore, Vietnam veteran and past president of Vet Connect on Sunday, Jan. 29. </p><p>The speaker series, titled “Coming Home,” is part of the “Sentinels” exhibition at the museum, which features the art of Vietnam veteran Mike Dowdall. The exhibition also includes images and items on loan from returning veterans and a veteran's resource table. It will conclude with a “Welcome Home Day” commemoration on Sunday, Jan. 29. </p><p>Fowler, who was with the Marine reconnaissance forces during the Iraq invasion in 2003, said he had wanted to be a marine since he was 14 years old. He joined in 2000 before September 11. </p><p>His service provided a “powerful history lesson,” Fowler said, that was augmented by “talking to other vets” when he returned. There were so many diverse experiences, “I have a different perspective than when I went there.”</p><p>Fowler added that he plans to go into social work when his education is complete because “if I can get my own head right maybe I can help some other people.” </p><p>The former Marine said he does not regret his service. “It made me what I am today, but it is important to recognize there is a past and there is a future.”</p><p>Petaluma Museum president Joe Noriel said audiences for the speaker series seem to be “a three-way split,” among veterans of current or prior conflicts and community members and students “eager to know what went on there.”</p><p>The speaker series grew out of the plans for the art exhibition “and the timing turned out to be perfect with vets returning from Iraq,” Noriel added.</p><p>“It has been interesting and gratifying to watch the camaraderie that has developed between the vets from all wars and those from Iraq,” Noriel said, “especially the Vietnam vets who are doing all they can to let recent vets know they are not alone.”</p><p>Recent vets seem to want to “remind us as a society,” that they are here.</p><p>“I don't know if it has been long enough for them to reflect on the historical significance of their service,” Noriel said, “But most feel like what they are doing” in speaking about their experiences “is making the world a better place.”</p><p>For more information about the exhibition and the speaker series at the Petaluma Museum, visit the website at www.petalumamuseum.com.</p><p>(Contact Marsha Trent at argus@arguscourier.com)</p>