East End Veterans Voices

The Bridgehampton Museum and USA Warrior Stories presents an exhibition featuring original artwork, photographs, video interviews, and memorabilia from U.S. military veterans with ties to the East End.

For nearly a decade, USA Warrior Stories co-founders Matt Hindra and Nick Kraus have recorded and shared the personal stories of U.S. military veterans. Each story is presented as a short documentary honoring an individual's service through their own words, photographs, personal keepsakes, citations and awards. The organization also highlights original artwork created by veterans who use artistic expression to help process their experiences and cope with the lasting effects of military service, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

East End Veterans Voices brings together original artwork by veterans John Melillo, Lisha Terry, Angelique Williams and Carrie-Anne Gonzalez; photographs and mementos from local veterans Arthur Muller, George Drago, Joe Giannini, Martin Sylvester, John Fenech, Francis Gabreski and Ron Campsey; and video clips from the USA Warrior Stories archive. The exhibition also offers local veterans an opportunity to have their own stories recorded and preserved for future generations.

Veterans, families, and community members are all welcome.

Learn more about USA Warrior Stories at www.usawarriorstories.org

Artist / Veterans

John Melillo is a disabled Vietnam War veteran and artist who grew up on the East End of Long Island. John uses painting as a healing mechanism for his PTSD.

Lisha Terry is a Westhampton Beach based U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force veteran who finds solace and creative expression in her paintings.

Angelique Williams served as a Yeomen in the U.S. Navy and finds calm in the chaos through her art and her service dog Buddy.

Carrie-Anne Gonzalez is a former United States Navy photographer whose work explores the intersection of personal experience, memory, and visual storytelling.

Veterans

Arthur Muller served in the U.S. Navy 1942-45 on a PT boat in the Pacific Theater. Art, an amateur photographer, took 100s of photos during his time in the Navy, many of which will be on display during this exhibition. After the war Art and his wife Irene settled in Water Mill, NY where Art served as postmaster for 30 years.

John Fenech served in the U.S. Coast Guard 1984-89 and was stationed at Coast Guard Station Shinnecock in Hampton Bays. John spent most of his career serving aboard the USCG Cutter Dallas which in 1986 was the on-scene commander for the Space Shuttle Challenger recovery mission.

Francis Gabreski was an American career pilot who served in both WWII and Korea and was one of the Air Force's most accomplished leaders. From 1964-67 Grabreski was commander of the 52nd Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Suffolk County Air Force Base in Westhampton Beach which is now named after him.

Ron Campsey, long time owner of the New Moon Café in East Quogue, grew up hearing stories about the Big Red One from his father who served with the Division during WWII.  Ron followed in his father’s footsteps, enlisting in the U.S. Army and joining the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam in July of 1967.