VERO BEACH — Jack Shupe, the former Chief Cartographer of the National Geographic Society, with the help of Lighthouse Art and Framing, will be donating a 1967 political view of Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia to the Veterans who served in that region during the 60’s and 70’s.
The map, designed by then Chief Cartographer Wellman Chamberlain, will hang in the headquarters of Chapter 1038 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
The map, elegantly framed by Lighthouse Art and Framing, will be presented to the Veterans led by their chapter President, USAF Colonel Martin J. Zickert (Retired) at their monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, and the Victory Center at the Indian River Mall.
Vero Beach resident Shupe had an outstanding career at the Cartographic Division of the National Geographic Society from 1965 to 1999, eventually becoming the Chief Cartographer before retiring and settling in Vero Beach.
That division made every map for all National Geographic magazines, books, atlases, and globes. One of his greatest accomplishments was developing and purchasing the computer systems that automated their entire mapmaking process and is still used to this day.
That effort took ten years and included a worldwide digital database. Anyone familiar with National Geographic is familiar with their state of the art craftsmanship.
For Shupe and Lighthouse owner Barry Shapiro, this donation is a small thank you and an acknowledgment of the men and women who served in that conflict, one that is often forgotten today as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan often overshadow the continuing story of our senior Veterans.
“I had friends who served in Vietnam. Some did not come back. After all these years, this is just a small way of saying that we won’t ever forget them. We’ve created displays for a number of veterans and their families, including medals and photographs from Vietnam, Korea, and the Gulf Wars. This, however, is special in that it will be for all the Veterans,” said Shapiro.
The Vietnam Veterans of America meet the second Wednesday of each month at the Victory Center. Visitors are welcome to the center.
For more information about this organization, please contact (772) 226-5316.
