In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of U.S. wars in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and the fifth anniversary of the publication of What We Inherit, join us for an intimate conversation between author Jessica Pearce Rotondi and Ambassador (ret.) Karen Stewart, board member of Legacies of War and former U.S. Ambassador to Laos.

Jessica’s critically acclaimed memoir was an Oprah Magazine pick and chronicles her family's decades-long search for her missing uncle, who was serving in the Air Force when his plane was shot down over Laos during the U.S. Secret War. Her journey uncovers long-buried government documents, declassified missions, and hidden grief—illuminating the untold costs of covert conflict. Jessica currently serves as Chair of Legacies Library, an online reference list of books, films, articles, and oral histories vetted by Legacies of War that tell the story of the American bombing of Laos (1964-1973) and its neighbors in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Each guest will receive a free copy of What We Inherit.  Light lunch and refreshments will be provided.

• Jessica Pearce Rotondi is an author and journalist. Her work has been published by The Boston Globe, The History Channel, and Vogue, and has been featured on CNN and NBC. Previously, she was a senior editor at The Huffington Post. Learn more: jessicapearcerotondi.com
• Ambassador Karen B. Stewart (ret.) served as U.S. Ambassador to Laos from 2010 to 2013 and held multiple senior roles in the U.S. Foreign Service. She now brings her deep diplomatic and regional experience to her role as a board member of Legacies of War, advocating for healing and justice in the wake of the U.S. bombing campaigns in Southeast Asia. Learn more: legaciesofwar.org

Hosted by Legacies of War and the Institute for Policy Studies.