A panel of veterans ranging from World War II to Afghanistan will discuss of the physical, emotional and psychological journeys of soldiers before, during and after war at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University

The program,“Over There and Coming Home: Veterans’ Journeys,” is part of the “Journey Stories” exhibit Developed by the Smithsonian Institution on on display at WCU through Nov. 9.

An accompanying exhibit focusing on local “journey stories” that was researched, designed and built by WCU public history students, “In, Out, Through and Back Again: Smoky Mountain Journeys,” is being shown at the Jackson County Public Library through Saturday, Nov. 17.

A program titled “Captain Orr’s Badge: A Civil War Journey,” will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at the Mountain Heritage Center, chronicling the journey of a Civil War-era U.S. Army officer’s badge from New York state to a flea market in Western North Carolina, which inspired a graphic novel by retired WCU art professor Lee Budahl. 828.227.7129.