At Marblehead Rotary, we believe that while the shadows of conflict last for generations, the cycle of enmity is not inevitable. We recently hosted the women of the 2 Sides Project, an incredible group connecting American and Vietnamese “Gold Star” children who lost their fathers on opposite sides of the Vietnam War. The nonprofit works with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) to organize meetings in Vietnam between the two groups and builds Peace Homes for needy families in the places where their fathers died. Their story is a powerful reminder that we can choose connection over grievance, even decades after a conflict ends.
To support this mission of reconciliation and, as part of our commitment to Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, our club, with a generous matching gift from Rotarian Linda Sullivan, is sponsoring a Peace Home in Chu Lai, Vietnam. That’s where the father of Marblehead resident Lynn McNally Dynice, USMC Captain Paul McNally, was killed on June 6, 1965. We’re proud to fund this peacebuilding work in Vietnam and look forward to sharing with you the home’s progress. Learn more: https://www.2sidesproject.com/
Pictured above are Margot Carlson Delogne, Founder of 2 Sides Project; Lynn McNally Dynice, 2025 Trip Participant; Linda Sullivan, Marblehead Rotarian; and Kim Carlson Benner, Board Member. Photo credit: Michael Dynice.