With Veteran's day quickly approaching, WSRE PBS for the Gulf Coast is honoring veterans for their bravery and selfless service to our country. During the month of November, WSRE's programming will focus on the stories of these remarkable men and women and their courageous efforts. Two special programs of note include WSRE's newest original documentary, produced in HD, "Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park" premiering Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and the national PBS documentary "Medal of Honor," which features the story of local medal recipient Col. George "Bud" Day premiering Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
"Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park" documents the history of how the park came into existence. In December of 1987, "The Moving Wall" - a replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, arrived in Pensacola and was displayed for five days. When it came time for the wall to travel on, some of the veterans who had stood vigil while the wall was in town, decided it was time Pensacola have a permanent monument to honor Vietnam vets. It was the start of a vision, the beginning of a tribute to those who have served our country in the United States Armed Forces. With the help and support of family, friends, service members, and community and business leaders, their dream became a reality and the Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park was established on Bayfront Parkway. Today, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial is there, and over the years, the park grew to include monuments for WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Gulf War and the conflict in Iraq. WSRE will trace the history of this park with archival photographs and footage, as well as interviews with those who made the dream a reality. An encore broadcast of this WSRE original documentary will air on Veteran's Day Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 21 at 8:30 p.m.
"Medal of Honor," directed and produced by Roger Sherman, is a gripping documentary that carries the audience on a journey from the Civil War era, when the Award was created, to the present day war in Iraq. The film highlights first hand accounts from a Navy Seal who swam two hours in the ocean to save wounded comrades and a Marine who braved Iwo Jima and cleared a path for his devastated company using a flame thrower. Included in these harrowing accounts is local veteran, Col. George "Bud" Day, who won the Medal of Honor for his bravery while a Prisoner of War in Vietnam. The documentary also highlights one woman who wins the Award during the Civil War and has it taken away from her. An encore broadcast of this documentary will air on Monday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Schedule of "Salute to Veterans" Programming on WSRE:
Nov. 5
7 p.m. Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park
7:30 p.m. Khaki Coast: How the Panhandle Helped Win WWII
8 p.m. Medal of Honor
9:30 p.m. The Marines
Nov. 6
8:30 p.m. Gulf Coast War Memories pt. 1/2
Nov. 8
5 p.m. Honor Flight.A Journey of Heroes
Nov. 9
10 a.m. Ken Burns' The War pt. 1/7
12:30 p.m. Ken Burns' The War pt. 2/7
2:30 p.m. Ken Burns' The War pt. 3/7
4:30 p.m. Ken Burns' The War pt. 4/7
Nov. 10
8 p.m. Medal of Honor
9:30 p.m. Reserved to Fight
10:30 p.m. Sanibel to Siberia: The Story of a WWII Memorial
Nov. 11
9:30 p.m. Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park
10 p.m. Gulf Coast War Memories pt. 2/2
Nov. 13
8:30 p.m. Khaki Coast: How the Panhandle Helped Win WWII
Nov. 16
12 p.m. Ken Burns' The War pt. 5/7
2:30 p.m. Ken Burns' The War pt. 6/7
4:30 p.m. Ken Burns' The War pt. 7/7
Nov. 20
7 p.m. Connecting the Community: Emerald Coast Honor Flight
7:30 p.m. Medal of Honor
Nov. 21
8:30 p.m. Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park
WSRE is available on Channel 23, on cable channel 8 in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, cable channel 9 in Okaloosa County, cable channel 4 in Baldwin County, Dish Network and DirecTV.
WSRE, Viewer Supported PBS for the Gulf Coast - is a service of Pensacola Junior College and has been helping the community "Be more connected" for over 40 years by encouraging our viewers to engage more deeply in the world around them. Through quality programming and educational outreach services, WSRE can help you "Be More educated, informed and entertained." WSRE is viewer supported public television. More information about WSRE is available at wsre.org
