This Veterans Day, West Virginia Public Broadcasting is launching “Stories of Service,” a website that features inspiring stories of military veterans, their families and communities: wvpublic.org/stories-service
It is part of a national PBS initiative which includes resources for vets and material for educators. West Virginia stories are also featured.
“We wanted a site that showcases all the material we produce about West Virginians who have served – whether it is our award-winning documentaries or our outstanding radio stories,” said Scott Finn, executive director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Documentaries include “West Virginians in War,” a two-hour film that examines why Mountaineers are among the first to volunteer for wartime service. Radio stories feature news about veterans and the West Virginia National Guard and Reserves.
The “Stories of Service” homepage introduces “The War in My Words,” an
upcoming web site and mobile application. It will allow veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to use their phones to video or audio tape their stories.
“We want to create an online community of vets to share their stories with each other and to communicate their war experience with the public,” said Mark Combs, assistant producer for the project and a combat vet of the Iraq surge. “These aren’t the stories you would tell your Mom and Dad.”
The application is being developed with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. “This funding will put a storytelling tool in the hands of our vets, allowing them to directly share their experiences,” said Chip Hitchcock, the project’s producer.
About West Virginia Public Broadcasting: West Virginia Public Broadcasting tells West Virginia’s story through high-quality programming and services including radio, television, Mountain Stage®, wvpublic.org, WV LearningMedia and Ready To Learn®. West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a trusted resource for education, news, emergency services and community development.
Contact
Chip Hitchcock
Producer/Director
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
304-284-1466
chitchcock@wvpublic.org