CETconnect.org

As Veterans Day approaches, I realize that the way I think about this day on the calendar will never be the same.  After speaking with around 35 people from the Cincinnati area and beyond about their fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, sons, and daughters who were touched in some profound way by World War II, I feel totally humbled and grateful for everything the Greatest Generation did for our country.  For a period of about two months, in the run-up to the Ken Burns documentary premiere of The War on CET, I was responsible for corresponding with veterans or people who wanted to share stories of the veterans in their families.  A lot of people here at CET believed that once the Burns/Novick documentary series began that the calls, letters, packages, and questions would subside a bit and things for me in my corner of our building would go back to normal.  However, they increased as the series began airing. 
          When I would check the mail, there would be something new almost everyday for nearly a full month.  Looking at each letter and package was really like Christmas to a person thirsty for knowledge on WWII, because there was no way of knowing how inspiring, devastating, or utterly telling the materials inside would be about the Second World War.  There have been times I have opened one of these packages and examined the photos and letters and have felt, as some people say, that God was watching me.  These are stories that simply jump off the page, and grab you and shake you to the core.  I would come to the realization, after hours of working on scanning and organizing the materials that our community so generously shared with us that I felt an enormous amount of sheer respect and awe for these “everyday people”.  They said goodbye to their young adult lives to fight for their country, or never came home again at all.  
          All I can say in 2007, is thank you.  Thank you to the people who fought for human rights and an end to tyranny in places all over the world, from Eastern Europe to Northern Africa, the Philippines and New Guinea, Iwo Jima and beyond.  And while WWII was so big, and was the focus of the Ken Burns documentary and the local veterans history project we worked on at CET, I have to say that it made me realize that all of the servicemen and servicewomen are linked.  The stories I was reading from 1939-1945 easily relate to stories of those serving in the U.S. military today in the Middle East.  Thank you to all of you.  Veterans Day is the most important day of remembrance and observance in the United States from my (now more informed) perspective.
-Amanda 

Tonight begins Ken Burns’ new documentary, The War. Tune into CET this evening beginning at 8pm. 

 Post your comments here and let us know what you thought about tonight’s episode.

 -Brian

Sorry things have been a bit lax over here at ye olde CETconnect blog. But we’ve been busy gearing up for Sunday’s premiere of Ken Burns’ The War.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, The War is a new seven-part series chronicling how World War II affected America. As our boys were fighting over there, how was life here affected? The series focuses on four towns in America: Waterbury, CT; Mobile, AL; Sacramento, CA; and Luverne, MN. Towns that could represent any town in the US during WWII.

You may also know that we’ve been collecting memories and stories from local WWII veterans. We’ve interviewed quite a number of folks such as Tuskeegee Airman John Leahr, Former US Ambassador John Dolibois, and former Cincinnati Mayor Bobbie Sterne. Just yesterday, we recorded former Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan being interviewed by his daughter, Kansas Governor Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius. These interviews are being preserved on our website for those who want to know how Greater Cincinnatians felt during these times. Why did they sign up? What was it like fighting in the Battle of the Bulge? These and more are just a few of the stories you can see on demand. And this collection will live on past The War’s airdate so that future generations can hear what life was like “back then”.

We’re also giving a chance for viewers to remember or honor the Veterans in their families with a donation to help our efforts to promote this series and continue our outreach.

And in anticipation of the series, we’ve been holding several preview screenings around the tristate.

As you can see, we’ve been focused on presenting this important series to Greater Cincinnati. In the next few days, we’ll continue you to update you on our latest efforts, news and information. And don’t forget, The War begins this Sunday at 8pm. Right here on CET.

 - Brian

By now, you may have seen short promo spots for Ken Burns’ new documentary, The War. This seven-part series, directed by Burns and Lynn Novick, focuses on World War II and how it affected this country on a human scale. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I’m the son of a WWII vet so I greatly anticipate this documentary. To me, it’s more interesting to hear the people’s story rather than just the tactics of generals. I guess I’ve always been more sympathetic towards Willie & Joe than Patton & MacArthur.

I might add that CET produced its own documentary on the local effects of WWII. Hosted by Nick Clooney, Cincinnati Reflections: The War Years — Life At Home highlights how the tristate responded that day in December, 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. It really is a fascinating look at the sacrifices our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents made in order to help the US and the Allies achieve victory.

A PBS Preview of Ken Burns’ The War will air July 1st at 10:30pm. And starting July 4th, look for a special 60 second promo titled “In Extraordinary Times” to begin airing right here on CET.

One expects that, with Burns’ attention to detail, The War will become the benchmark for future WWII accounts. Ken Burns’ The War airs this September on CET. Keep checking in for more information and further updates.

–Brian