In Their Words - Broadcast Documentary

"Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and the other the nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: a nation conceived in liberty and justice." — At the entrance of the National World War II Memorial

Clarence Fowler being filmed in Washington, D.C.

Fewer than three million US World War II veterans remain alive today. Those remaining are estimated to be dying at a rate of 1,400 every 24 hours. Our nation's tribute to their generation, the National World War II Memorial, was not dedicated until the Spring of 2004, fifty-nine years after the war ended. The youngest veteran at the dedication would have been in his seventies.

In June of 2007, AETN transported, via chartered aircraft, forty-five randomly selected In Their Words interviewees to visit the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. We called the trip a "Tribute Tour."

Greg Elsken speaking with children in Washington, D.C.

Trip participants received a private tour of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and also received a special Evensong service and blessing at Washington's National Cathedral. During an afternoon, Arkansas Veterans viewed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. At sunset, the veterans, their travel companions, and AETN's documentary crew arrived at the National World War II Memorial for their first glimpse of the memorial built in their honor.

For the AETN staff, documentary film crew, and veteran support, being part of the "Tribute Tour" was as satisfying as it was humbling. The job essentially was to provide a safe and successful trip for the veterans and document it for future generations. But once in Washington D.C., the 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.

Tribute Tour group photograph in front of our US Airways Airbus A320

Group photograph of AETN's Tribute Tour participants in Washington, D.C.

We hope their experiences touring the nation's capitol and their reflections of the war years translate into this ninety-minute film as well as it did for us while we shared those days with them in Washington, D.C. 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.

Watch it on AETN starting Sunday, September 23, 2007 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.