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Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs partner for veterans appreciation event Nov. 12

Posted 08 Nov 2018

The Arkansas Educational Television Network in partnership with the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History and the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs will host a veterans appreciation event on Veterans Day (observed) Monday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event will showcase Arkansas veteran organizations and their services and include screenings of AETN's "Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works" digital shorts.

All veterans are encouraged to attend the event, which will be held at the museum, 503 E 9th St., Little Rock. Refreshments will be served.

"Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works" is a digital content and engagement initiative focusing on successful examples of veterans "finding what works" to overcome personal challenges in transitioning from active duty to civilian life. AETN is sharing content focusing on specific topics related to veterans weekly through Nov. 23 on Facebook (facebook.com/aetntv) and at aetn.org/veteranscominghome. A national website dedicated to veterans' stories of service is available at veteranscominghome.org.

The shorts, featuring Arkansas veterans and their connected support organizations, shown during the veterans appreciation event will include:

• "Ain't Dead Yet." Anthony Smith survived an RPG explosion in Iraq but lost his arm and his ability to walk. After months of intense physical therapy and with the help of deep familial support, Smith found renewed strength and purpose through teaching martial arts to students of all ages in his Northeast Arkansas martial arts studio and through training for the 2020 U.S. Paralympic team.
• "Sowing Salvation." After multiple tours in Iraq, Terrell "Spence" Spencer sought peace through working the land in Northwest Arkansas. Inspired to pursue farming after witnessing an Iraqi family farming their land, he searched for a similar calm after his return home to the U.S. Ultimately, he found fulfillment helping other veterans heal through farming with his creation of a program called "Armed to Farm."
• "Veteran's Best Friend." When Amanda Hugo returned home after 21 years of service on a U.S. Air Force bomb squad in Iraq, she faced daunting physical and emotional hardships. Her partnership with a service dog – an 18-month old English Mastiff named Axel – offered new challenges and solutions. Together, they formed a unique and evolving partnership.
• "Compasión." Returning from active duty in Iraq to face divorce and single parenthood, Arkansas National Guard Capt. Cibelés Ramirez Rodriguez found purpose in being a mother, in helping others and in passing on the value of compassion to her 12-year-old son.

A special broadcast that includes the locally produced Arkansas veterans' stories will premiere Monday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. and repeat at 7:30 p.m. on AETN.

The MacArthur Museum will host an additional Veterans Day program, "Baseball and the American Flag," Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. Baseball legend Rick Monday, who served six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves while playing Major League Baseball, will share his story of stopping two would-be protesters from setting an American flag on fire during a game at Dodger Stadium in April 1976 while playing for the Chicago Cubs. The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Children's Theater of the Arkansas Arts Center, adjacent to the military museum in MacArthur Park.

"Veterans Coming Home" is an innovative cross-platform public media campaign exploring "what works" for veterans as they return to civilian life – exploring the challenges and sharing the success stories of veterans who are making a difference in the workplace, on campus and in their communities. Additional information, including stories of service, is available at veteranscominghome.org.

"Veterans Coming Home" is a collaborative, multiplatform public media project between Wisconsin Public Television and Kindling Group in partnership with local stations and other national organizations. Veterans Coming Home is made possible with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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).