WSBE Airs Three Programs in Memorial Day Tribute

On Sunday, May 29 - the day before Memorial Day - WSBE Rhode Island PBS presents three programs in honor of those who nobly served and survived, and those who courageously fell.

At 9 p.m., WSBE airs Journey of an American Warrior (formerly titled "WWII Honor Flight: A Journey into the Past"). For 60 years, World War II veterans didn't have a monument, didn't have a place to go to remember their friends who didn't come back. Finally in 2004, the United States government finished the monument. By that time, however, many of the veterans were well into their 80s, and unable to make the trip to Washington to visit the monument that honored them and their fallen comrades. Journey of an American Warrior is the story of one man's dream to make sure every veteran has a chance to stand before the granite stars and stripes in the nation's capitol. In this 30-minute documentary, climb aboard the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., and fly backward in time with these heroes of World War II. (re-broadcast Tuesday, May 31 at 1:30 a.m.)

Click here for more information about the Honor Flight Network featured in the film.

At 9:30 p.m., WSBE Rhode Island PBS airs National Memorial Day Concert. For more than 20 years,  PBS's National Memorial Day Concert has led the nation in honoring the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all the fallen who have given their lives for our country. The multi award-winning event will be co-hosted for the sixth year by Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI:New York) and Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veterans causes and supporting our troops in active service. Joining them will be an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists. (Re-broadcast Tuesday, May 31 at 2 a.m.)

Finally, at 11 p.m., WSBE features Rhode Islander director Tim Gray's moving and local story, D-Day: The Price of Freedom. This story captures the emotional reunion of five World War II veterans from Rhode Island as they travel together to Normandy, France, 60 years after surviving the invasion. Jim Karpeichik was the film's cinematographer. D-Day: The Price of Freedom will also air the night before, Saturday, May 28 at 7 p.m., as part of WSBE's series Rhode Island Stories.