History
“There is a real necessity to bridge the gap between civilians and those who have served in the military. It is our hope that the film will encourage a candid discussion in communities across the country, and create understanding and awareness of the sacrifices involved in military service.”— Ric Burns, American documentary filmmaker and writer
Debt of Honor premieres Tuesday, November 10, 2015, 9 p.m. ET.
Debt of Honor premieres Tuesday, November 10, 2015, 9 p.m. ET.
Disabled veterans hold a unique place in the history of veterans in the United States, one that palpably illustrates the human cost of war, and speaks to the enormous sacrifices of military service.Debt of Honor examines the way in which the American government and society as a whole have regarded disabled veterans throughout history, beginning in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War through today’s continuing conflicts in the Middle East.
Watch videos, view photos and read more about the film at:
http://www.pbs.org/veterans/stories-of-service/stream-tv/a-to-z/debt-of-honor/
More About the Film
As advances in field medicine markedly reduce the number of deaths in the battlefield, increased numbers of veterans are coming home with severe injuries. These soldiers carry both visible and invisible scars of war, and their readjustment back into civilian life is often complicated by the psychological trauma and physical wounds sustained in battle. Today, with the United States fighting the longest war in its history, it has become imperative to create a bridge between civilians and soldiers, forging ties with the 1 percent of Americans who comprise the nation’s military.
Debt of Honor seeks to understand the societal perception of soldiers and the wars they fight, exploring the repercussions of the growing divide between civilians and those who serve. Above all, it seeks to build a new bridge between military and civilian cultures in the United States, to inspire an important dialogue about how Americans treat their veterans, and to impart a message of compassion and mutual understanding.
The film features deeply moving interviews with prominent veterans, including Representative Tammy Duckworth, former Georgia Senator Max Cleland, former Commander of Fort Belvoir Gregory Gadson and author and motivational speaker J.R. Martinez, as well as leading academics in the fields of disability studies, American history and psychiatry, including University of Pennsylvania Professor Beth Linker; author of War’s Waste: Rehabilitation in World War I America; David A. Gerber, Director Emeritus of the Centre for Disability Studies, University at Buffalo, SUNY; Dr. Charles Marmar, Director of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Veterans Center at NYU Langone Medical Center; and James Wright, President Emeritus and Eleazar Wheelock Professor of History at Dartmouth College.
The interviews are rounded out with the inspiring story of Pvt. J.R. Martinez, who sustained burns over 40 percent of his body while stationed in Iraq when the convoy he was travelling in struck an IED, as well as poignant commentary from Admiral Mike Mullen, 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Thomas Lynch, poet and undertaker.
Watch videos, view photos and read more about the film at:
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