Niagara County Accepts Historical Record of Vietnam Death Notices

Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski and Veteran Services Director Jeff Glatz were presented with a two-volume set of every death notice for Western New York resident killed in Vietnam by Mary Brennan-Taylor, co-curator of the “I Was There: Unknown Stories of Vietnam” exhibit.  The binders of death notices were the work of local historian Patrick Kavanagh and will be kept by the County Historian’s office.

“Niagara County is committed to making sure that sacrifices our residents made in service to our country are never forgotten so we very much appreciate this great piece of history that preserves the death notices of every county resident killed in Vietnam,” said Jastrzemski.  “Residents are welcome to come review the documents and I would bet there are many later generations who heard the story of a hero family member but never saw the published death notice.”

Brennan-Taylor said there are more than 500 death notices in the two volumes.

“I am so appreciative to everyone who visited our exhibit, attended one of our events and participated in our programming as we seek to capture the stories of Vietnam,” said Brennan-Taylor, who curated the Vietnam exhibit at the Kenan Center along with Ellen Martin.  “This remarkable work by Patrick Kavanagh reinforces what we were trying to accomplish with our exhibit which was recognize the individual experience of those who were there.  Behind every death notice is a Niagara County life cut short in Vietnam and a family forever changed. His work ensures their stories will not fade into history.”

Those who would like to view the documents should call the Niagara County Historian’s office at (716) 439-7324.

Pictured, Veterans Services Director Jeff Glatz, Mary Brennan-Taylor, and County Clerk Joe Jastrzemski.)