VA is coordinating
with the PBS host station WETA in Arlington, VA to support outreach
efforts to Vietnam Veterans and their families. Ken Burns and Lynn
Novick’s ten-part, 18-hour documentary series,THE VIETNAM WAR,
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.
PBS
will provide an outreach and public engagement program, providing
opportunities for communities to participate in a national conversation
about what happened during
the Vietnam War, what went wrong and what lessons are to be learned. VA
is not an official sponsor or endorser of PBS; however, this PBS
outreach initiative affords the department an opportunity to tell how VA
cares for Veterans.
The
director of VA’s Readjustment Counseling Service will avail the
department’s 300 Vet Centers and 80 Mobile Vet Centers (Clinical and
outreach staff) to participate
in local PBS station outreach events with the objective to ensure
Vietnam Veterans are aware of VET Center services, and provide direct
counseling on site, if required.
PBS’
lead outreach coordinator affirmed there is NO solicitation for paid VA
sponsorships; rather, PBS is compiling VA crisis action line and local
VET Center information
to share with nation-wide PBS affiliates.
VA is also a major commemorative partner with the Department of Defense 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration Program and participation
in PBS outreach
forums provides opportunities to thank Vietnam Veterans and their
families for service to our nation. The commemoration honors all
Veterans who served between November 1, 1955 to and May 15, 1975
worldwide. More than 9 million served during this period and
about 7 million Vietnam era Veterans are living today. A majority of
our regional offices, national cemeteries and VAMC continue to support
these commemorative events. To learn more, please visit: http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/ 