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Last updated on Friday, August 25, 2017
(BLOOMINGTON) - Next month, WTIU Public Television will offer a series of programs and events to provide diverse perspectives on the Vietnam War and to honor the sacrifices made by veterans.
WTIU's schedule of programs and events is built around the national PBS premiere of Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's ten-part,18-hour documentary series, The Vietnam War. Ten years in the making, this series premieres September 17 at 8 p.m. on WTIU and tells the epic story of one of the most consequential, divisive, and controversial events in American history as it has never before been told on film. Visceral and immersive, the series explores the human dimensions of the war through revelatory testimony of nearly 80 witnesses from all sides - Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as combatants and civilians from North and South Vietnam. The series airs every night at 8 p.m. from September 17-21 and September 24-28.
Hoosier filmmaker and Vietnam veteran Ron Osgood worked with WTIU to produce a new Indiana companion piece to PBS's The Vietnam War. Premiering September 14 at 8:30 p.m. on WTIU and simultaneously on Facebook Live (facebook.com/wtiupublictv), Just Like Me: The Vietnam War - Stories from All Sides examines the war from multiple points of view--American and North and South Vietnamese, as well local perspectives from Indiana veterans and residents. Through Osgood's own story and other first-person accounts, the documentary reveals the shared experience of the war that connects the former enemies. More information, including a trailer of the program, is available at wtiu.org/justlikeme. Production support for Just Like Me: The Vietnam War - Stories from All Sides comes from Smithville Fiber and Indiana University Veterans Support Services.
WTIU will also re-broadcast Osgood's previous war documentary My Vietnam, Your Iraq at 9:30 p.m. following the premiere of Just Like Me: The Vietnam War - Stories from All Sides on September 14. Originally airing on PBS in 2011, Osgood's film connects these two wars with less attention paid to divisive politics, choosing instead to focus on the personal stories of eight Vietnam veterans whose own children have served in Iraq. More information is available at pbs.org/program/my-vietnam-your-iraq.
Prior to the television debuts of The Vietnam War and Just Like Me: The Vietnam War - Stories from All Sides, WTIU will host a special screening event at Bloomington City Hall Council Chambers September 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This free event will include a screening of the entire Just Like Me: The Vietnam War - Stories from All Sides documentary with a Q&A following with producer Ron Osgood and a one-hour preview of The Vietnam War series. Community veterans resource agencies will be on hand to provide information and support. The Indiana Veterans Mobile Unit from Indianapolis will also be on site throughout the event.
Finally, WTIU, along with other Indiana public broadcasting stations across the state, are partnering with The Texas Tenors on a concert to salute Vietnam veterans September 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis. This concert experience includes a performance by The Texas Tenors, a ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans, and a special preview of The Vietnam War. Tickets are available at . Discounted tickets are available for veterans and active military. Limited meet and greet VIP reception passes are also available to those who become members of WTIU. More information is available at wtiu.org/events.
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