Yuma Exhibit Honors Vietnam Veterans, Opens Museum Season
The Yuma County Historical Society opened the Yumans in Vietnam exhibit Tuesday at Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens in Downtown Yuma, timed to Veterans Day and the start of the 2025 to 2026 museum season. The exhibit recognizes local service members and the 13 Yuma residents killed in action, offering a free public display and an opportunity for families to contribute stories and memorabilia.
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The Yuma County Historical Society unveiled the Yumans in Vietnam exhibit Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens in Downtown Yuma, marking both a Veterans Day remembrance and the opening of the 2025 to 2026 museum season. The exhibit honors Yuma residents who served in the Vietnam War and specifically recognizes 13 individuals from the county who were killed in action.
The unveiling ceremony and the exhibit are free and open to the public, an approach intended to remove financial barriers and encourage broad community participation. The Historical Society is actively seeking contributions from residents, and asks that anyone who served in Vietnam or who has family photographs, stories or memorabilia contact them at info@yumahistoric.org or at (928) 782 1841.
The exhibit places local stories at the center of a national conflict, preserving first person accounts and artifacts that might otherwise be dispersed or lost. "This exhibit is a way for our community to come together and remember those who served, especially those who didn't return home," said Bruce Gwynn, Yuma County Historical Society Board Member. The focus on personal histories aims to connect younger residents with the experiences of older generations and to bolster civic memory at a time when direct veterans testimony becomes rarer.
Beyond remembrance, the timing and free admission have practical implications for Downtown Yuma. Seasonal openings and commemorative programming can increase visitor traffic to cultural sites, and that foot traffic often benefits nearby restaurants, shops and service providers. For a county whose economy includes a mix of agriculture, retail and tourism, museum programming that draws local and regional visitors can support small business revenues particularly during holiday weekends and the winter visitor season.
The Historical Society’s call for donations of photographs and memorabilia also underscores long term preservation goals. Building a community archive strengthens local historical capacity and reduces future costs for artifact acquisition. Community contributed materials expand the exhibit narrative beyond military records to include family life, employment and the social fabric of Yuma during the Vietnam era.
For residents interested in contributing or learning more, the Historical Society welcomes contact via email at info@yumahistoric.org or by phone at (928) 782 1841. The Yumans in Vietnam exhibit opens the museum season with a local focus on service and sacrifice, and offers Yuma an opportunity to both honor veterans and to reinforce cultural tourism as part of the county’s broader economic and civic life.
