Coupeville Library hosts Michael Holtby talk, displays Vietnam veterans' portraits through February

Michael Holtby, described on event listings as a photographer, author and Whidbey Island resident, presented a series of photographic portraits honoring Whidbey Island veterans who served in the Vietnam War at Coupeville Library. The portraits are on display at Coupeville Library throughout the month of February 2026, and Holtby gave a talk on Feb. 19, 2026 tied to the project.

Each display pairs a veteran's portrait alongside a first-person narrative about the impact of the war on their lives, according to the exhibit description posted on Sno-Isle Libraries' BiblioCommons event page and on Whidbeylocal. The two-part format - visual portrait plus personal narrative - is the central feature residents will encounter when visiting the Coupeville Library exhibit through the end of February.

Holtby's Feb. 19 talk focused on the legacy of the Vietnam War and was framed as commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Event listings note Holtby planned to share some of the veterans' stories, including others not displayed at the library, indicating the talk expanded on the portraits in the gallery and brought additional first-person accounts to the audience.

Practical details for people who want to see the exhibit or follow up were listed on both event pages. The Sno-Isle event listing includes accessibility guidance: "To request a sign language interpreter, complete this online form or contact your local library at least two weeks prior to the library event. Interpreters will be provided based on availability." Both Sno-Isle and Whidbeylocal include prompts to contact organizers for questions and refer readers to Programs & Events FAQs for additional information.

The project and talk were posted in the library and community event systems that local residents use to track programming; Whidbeylocal's event page titled "Honoring Our Vietnam Veterans: Portraits & Stories" appears alongside other community listings such as "2026 Red Wine and Chocolates at Holmes Harbor Cellars," "Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange," and "Baby Storytime." Sno-Isle's BiblioEvents metadata indicates the listing was managed through the library events platform.

The portraits and accompanying narratives remain available for viewing at Coupeville Library through the month of February 2026, giving Islanders a limited window to read first-person accounts and view Holtby's photographic work before the exhibit closes at the end of the month.