Las Vegas Atomic Museum Atoms For Peace Exhibition
The Nevada Test Site has employed thousands of "Cold War Veterans" - military and civilian personnel alike, whose work, it can be argued, contributed greatly to the ending of the Cold War.
The Cold War is over now, but one could also argue that the world is still in great danger from the misuse of atomic weaponry. With every tool mankind has invented, often there comes the two-edged sword - a hatchet can chop wood for a fire, or it can be a very effective weapon of human destruction. Let us pray that in the future the power of the atom will only be used for peaceful purposes.
An exhibit at the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas accentuating the peaceful uses of the atom is worth seeing:
"The 'Atoms For Peace' art exhibit was created by Erik Nitsche in the 1950's and 1960's. to depict his interpretation of nuclear energy uses. A historical perspective was added by four present-day humanities scholars. The views on the slogan, the artwork, and context are posted to engage you, the visitor, in a thought-provoking look at our nuclear past and present."
The artwork exhibition runs through January 21st (Mon - Sat , 9-5, Sun 1-5) at the Atomic Testing Museum, 755 East Flamingo, Las Vegas (702-744-5155).
Related: "Fight against terrorism similar to anti-communist Cold War" from Cold War Veterans Blog
Posts
Leaving "What's Happening, Vegas?"
2 comments:
If the Nevada Test Site has employed thousands of Cold War Veterans, perhaps at least a few of them will read this comment.
I personally lift a salute of honor to all the Cold War Veterans and believe the time has come in our history that the Cold War will become more clearly understood as a war with casualties and now some stories which were hidden will now be made know to the public. During the Cold War a newspaper article may say that an aircraft with pilot and crew went down in a 'weather related' accident, when the truth was the aircraft was on a classified reconnaissance
mission off the coast of China, Russia, or elsewhere.
New legislation will soon be introduced in Congress seeking authorization of the Cold War Victory Medal for all those who gave their lives... and all those who stood on the edge of freedom, always 'at the ready' to defend our nation.
To these great Cold War Veterans we extend respect, and honor, and help. Just as the time has come that the general public are discovering the Cold War for what it really was, the time has come that our Cold War Veterans are discovering... the Cold War Veterans Association, at:
www.ColdWarVeterans.com .
Hector Ed Autry
Heartland Region
Cold War Veterans Association
Thank you for that great comment. Civilians and military personnel who were "downwind", witnessing and working on the above ground nuclear testing were exposed to hazardous materials and radiation, as were the workers who conducted the underground testing after the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963. The most common ailments are berilium poisioning and various cancers of the lungs and blood. The government is not relaesing statistics, but easilly thousands of personnel worked at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) over the years. I am one of them. When I used the term "Cold War Veterans" in this context, it was more a figure of speach, in that I am aware that the term "veteran" usually applies strictly to military personnel. I apologise to those who feel I may have misused this phrase. I would not be the first or last to apply it to the Nevada Test Site workers. I salute our military and they are, of course, predominantly responsible for ending the Cold War!
Post a Comment