The Arkansas Educational Television Network arranged for 47 World War II veterans from across the state to travel to Washington, D.C., to visit the National World War II Memorial in a four-day “Tribute Tour” in June. That trip has now been made into a 90-minute documentary that will premiere Sunday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. on AETN.

   “Their Journey: A Veterans’ Tribute Tour,” a production of “In Their Words: AETN’s World War II Oral Histories Project,” follows these 47 participants through the nation’s capitol as they visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Arlington National Cemetery, receive a special Evensong service and blessing at Washington's National Cathedral and experience the memorial built in their honor at sunset.

   “For the AETN staff, documentary film crew and veteran support, being apart of the Tribute Tour was as satisfying as it was humbling,” producer Gabe Gentry said. “Our job essentially was to provide a safe and successful trip for these veterans and document it for future generations.

   “But, once in Washington, D.C., our real job became deafeningly clear: enjoy these men and women before they leave us. Listen to their stories, marvel at their wisdom, appreciate their sacrifice and serve them as best we could.”

   “In Their Words” allows AETN to archive firsthand knowledge of the war for use by future generations online and in the classroom, as well as providing a lasting memory for the interviewee’s family. With more than 200 veterans completing interviews to date, each was issued a Tribute Tour invitation, and 45 participants were selected randomly in April. Two participants chose other World War II veterans as their travel companions, bringing the total to 47.

   Among those chosen for AETN’s “Tribute Tour” were:

• Alexander – Theodore Roosevelt Dale

• Arkadelphia – Ross Edward Brewer and Austin F. Freeman

• Ash Flat – William C. Horton

• Bearden – Thomas Wesley Word, Jr

• Camden – Charles Leonard Allen

• Conway – Arthur Rudolph Dominguez, Garland J. Gable, Audie James Lynch and William Kimbrough Manning

• El Dorado – H. Y. Rowe

• Fayetteville – Anna Marie (Olup) Giese

• Fort Smith – Clayton Okla Hatley and J Lynn Hughes.

• Greenbrier – Robert Edison Springer

• Heber Springs – Arnot Dawn Havis Libby and Bentley F. Stracener

• Hot Springs – James Dewey Elliott and Billie L. Ringgold

• Hot Springs Village – Ray Hubert Huntsinger

• Lamar – Beryl Bernard Wolfson

• Little Rock – Walter Monroe Dickinson, Harold B. Downes, Gregory John Elsken, Paul Ray Fair, Mary Jean (Hyne) Fine, Lewis S. Rauton, Allen Joseph Thevenet, Thomas O. Toone, Fay O. Wardlaw and William Henry Webster

• Locust Grove – Garland Jorden

• Maumelle – Lyle Stafford

• Mineral Springs – Eddie Mike Pope

• North Little Rock – Edwin Childs Martin and David L. Moffat

• Pine Bluff – Nathaniel Hicks

• Searcy – Harley J. Bridger, Clarence Alvin Fowler, Charles Dale Van Patten, Irvin B. Van Patten and Leon Van Patten

• Sherwood – Wilbur Johnson

• Swifton – Hurshel Redman Holt

• Van Buren – Resty Vicencio Farmer, Eckel Wright Rowland

• Waldo – Thomas Fincher

  “We hope their experiences touring the nation’s capitol and their reflections of the war years translates into this 90-minute film as well as it translated for us while we shared those days with them in D.C.,” Gentry said. “And that somehow, we were able to give back a tiny fraction to a generation that gave so much and never once asked for anything.”

   Prior to “Their Journey: A Veterans’ Tribute Tour,” AETN will host the live event “Beyond Their Words: A Look at AETN’s WWII Oral History Project” beginning at 4 p.m. Viewers will be treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and visual history Web site with more than 300 hours of Arkansas war stories and get a sneak peak into the AETN atrium for a unique World War II exhibit.

   These programs accompany the PBS premiere of Ken Burns’ latest series, “The War,” which will air in seven parts beginning Sunday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. AETN will kick off this landmark television event with “Countdown to The War” Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. For a complete list of related programming and events, visit www.aetn.org/thewar.

   Private funds, and some funds were made available through the “In Their Words” project sponsored AETN’s “Tribute Tour." Anyone who would like to be interviewed for the “In Their Words” project may apply online at www.intheirwords.org or print the application and mail it to AETN, Attn: Gabe Gentry, P.O. Box 1250, Conway, AR 72033. For more information, call 800-662-2386.

   The Arkansas Educational Television Network ,www.aetn.org, provides lifelong learning opportunities, improves and enhances Arkansans’ lives and celebrates the unique culture of Arkansas  through its programming and services. AETN’s analog and digital transmitters and numerous cable system connections give it statewide reach.

 

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