Humanitini Presents: Walt Whitman and Hospital Volunteerism
Date and Time
May 28, 2019 6:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
May 28, 2019 6:00 pm
14th & V
Jeffrey Reznick, PhD. and Steve Peth, LTC, U.S. Army, Retired, discuss the value of hospital volunteer service both during Walt Whitman’s time in Washington, and in the present day. Reznick co-authored an article with Lenore Barbian and Paul Sledzik that links several of the human remains in the collection of the National Museum of Health and Medicine with Civil War soldiers who Whitman administered to and comforted in the last days of their lives. Using Whitman’s own words, the article brings to life the human stories behind a largely scientific collection. Peth is a dedicated American Red Cross volunteer and group leader serving the staff and patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Peth coordinates 65-75 Red Cross volunteers who, following in Whitman’s footsteps, help care for ill, wounded, and injured servicemen and women. Peth was inspired to volunteer during his service as a DUSTOFF pilot in the Vietnam War, evacuating soldiers from the battlefield and flying them to safety at medical facilities.
This event is part of the Walt Whitman 200 Festival. www.walt200.org
The Walt Whitman 200 Festival celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of America’s most significant and enduring poets, who was a resident of Washington, DC for ten years during and after the Civil War.
