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AETN plans special programming for Veterans Day weekend

Posted 08 Nov 2017

The Arkansas Educational Television Network will celebrate and honor veterans with special programming Sunday, Nov. 12, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The schedule includes:

• "Barnes and … A Conversation With Col. Karen Lloyd," airing Sunday, Nov. 12, at 12:30 p.m. Steve Barnes visits with retired Col. Karen D. Lloyd, director of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. She oversees the direction of activities of the Library of Congress to ensure the collection, preservation and accessibility of the personal testimonies of American war veterans.
• "In Their Words – Their Journey: A Veteran's Tribute Tour," airing Sunday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m. In June of 2007, 45 World War II veterans were escorted by AETN to visit the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. The veterans' experiences touring the nation's capitol and their reflections of the war years make up this 90-minute film that was 59 years in the making.
• "Remembering Vietnam: The Telling Project," airing Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2:30 p.m. This program takes viewers behind-the-scenes as national performing arts organization The Telling Project works with Minnesota veterans of the Vietnam War and armed conflict in Laos to create a play in which veterans share their stories. The one-hour program follows the cast – including former Army nurse Mary Beth Crowley, Marine veteran Ken Plant, retired Navy service member Ken Sholes, Army veteran Ray Wilson, and the son of a Laos army officer, Khang Yang – through interviews, time spent with their families and friends, and rehearsals, culminating in a performance with an invited audience.
• "Journey Home to the USS Arizona," airing Sunday, Nov. 12, at 3:30 p.m. Narrated by Matthew Broderick, the one-hour documentary follows the family of Raymond Haerry Sr. as they travel 5,000 miles from New Jersey to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl.

Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, to place his ashes aboard the sunken battleship. Following the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941, 19-year-old Ray was blown into the water and swam through oil and fire to Ford Island, an islet in the center of Pearl Harbor, Oahu. There, he found a rifle and opened fire on Japanese planes. Later, Haerry helped to recover the bodies of his fallen shipmates. One of the few remaining crew members from the USS Arizona who survived the Japanese attack during World War II, Haerry passed away at the age of 94 on Sept. 27, 2016. In April of 2017, his ashes were interred in the USS Arizona, where he rejoined more than 1,000 of his shipmates who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Ken Burns' "The Vietnam War," a 10-part, 18-hour documentary film series, will repeat Tuesday evenings at 8 during the month of November, as part of the "AETN Salutes Arkansas Vietnam Veterans" initiative. More information about the local initiative, including complete information on how to get involved, is available at aetn.org/thevietnamwar.

The Arkansas Educational Television Network is Arkansas's only statewide public media network, which enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers through the distinct channels AETN PBS, AETN Create, AETN PBS KIDS, AETN World and AETN AIRS on SAP. Audiences can also watch on several digital platforms, and members with AETN Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at aetn.org. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro) and KETZ (El Dorado).