In remembrance of those who paid the highest price for our freedoms, enjoy a compilation of Memorial Day programming including documentaries, concerts, biopics and more in a tribute honoring our fallen veterans.
Legendary entertainer Bob Hope and his troupe of performers traveled more than 80,000 miles during World War II to entertain the troops. There were several close calls where Hope and his fellow entertainers were almost killed. Hope and his troupe often performed near the frontlines in Europe and the Pacific as part of an overall Hollywood effort to make sure stars brought some of America to the battle zones. Using animated maps and interviews with Hollywood historians, authors, and combat veterans, MILES, MORALE AND MEMORIES: BOB HOPE AND WORLD WAR II examines Hope's impact on World War II and why President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked some of Hollywood's top radio and movie stars to hold a microphone instead of a gun in the war.
America’s national night of remembrance live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol brings us together as one family of Americans to honor the service of generations of our men and women in uniform, our military families and to pay tribute to all those who have given their lives for our country. The 2025 concert features personal stories and tributes interwoven with musical performances by world-renowned artists and the National Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the real meaning of the holiday.
During World War II, a shortage of soldiers managing the postal service created a backlog of mail and packages that never made it to their intended destinations. Officials knew the undelivered mail was hurting morale but were unsure how to solve the problem. To address this issue, Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator and political activist, advocated for the enlistment of women of color in the Women's Army Corps. TWO WARS: NO MAIL, LOW MORALE tells the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (also known as the Six-Triple-Eight), a group of 824 women who served in the Women's Army Corps. Under the command of Major Charity Edna Adams, the Six-Triple-Eight created a card index system to efficiently process mail and completed numerous critical missions that contributed to the war effort. Despite their significant contributions, the battalion received little recognition and was disbanded upon return to the U.S. It took 50 years before their heroic efforts were properly acknowledged.
The documentary chronicles the life of Hershel "Woody" Williams, America's last living World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. A life dedicated to God, family, country and perhaps above all, service. His legacy, the Gold Star Families Monuments, are now in every state.
"The World's Toughest Row" is an extreme race featuring unassisted rowing boats that cross the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Antigua. For a team of four Air Force veterans, this challenge was the ultimate test of body and mind, as well as an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for other vets experiencing mental illness. The journey was incredible. The team trained hard and felt prepared for the grueling physical and mental beating the race would offer. But nothing could have prepared them for the sudden, unrelenting and raging storm that sent a 30-foot swell with a 50-knot wind gust that violently capsized their boat. The team raced against all odds to get back to shore, but a damaged raft and failing technological support limited their capacity to fight the current. Fortunately, an atmospheric miracle enabled their mayday signal to reach a giant freighter, which eventually tracked them down and came to their rescue. Narrated by actor William Fichtner, DEFYING DEATH ON THE ATLANTIC is an hour-long documentary that tells their story. It features the four veterans who refused to give up and, despite incredible odds, continued to support each other until they were rescued. They began this journey to encourage other veterans to share their stories in the hope of healing. Now, they have the ultimate story to share.
Over the last 20 years, the United States has lost almost five times as many active service members and veterans to suicide than were lost in the entirety of the Global War on Terrorism combat operations. A diverse group of veterans share their struggle with either combat or sexual assault-related Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury, while leading experts offer hope and answers.
Meet the American women who built the planes and flew them, fought on the warfront and the home front, cracked codes and broke barriers. The “secret weapon” that helped win the war, they forever changed the world in the process. History comes alive with newly-rediscovered interviews and rarely seen archival footage.
