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Gloucester County vets to see their story - NJ.com
Gloucester County vets to see their story
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
By DJ McAneny
djmcaneny@sjnewsco.com
A special group of veterans on Thursday will be given the respect of viewing a tribute to their lives through the eyes of some of America's best storytellers four days before that vision debuts to the rest of the world.
The Honor Flight program from Monroe Township will be transporting 250 World War II veterans who served in the Pacific theater to Washington, D.C., for a special screening of the new HBO series, "The Pacific." The story follows three soldiers in the Marine Corps from the initial assault on Guadalcanal through their return home. It was executive produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
"HBO is honored to take part in bringing some of our nation's heroic veterans to visit the World War II Memorial," said Zach Enterlin, vice president of advertising and promotions, HBO. "While 'The Pacific' is centered on the stories of only a handful of Marines, it reminds us of the sacrifices made by so many men and women in service to our country. It is critically important to acknowledge their contributions and give them our eternal thanks."
Honor Flight was started in May 2005, when physician's assistant and retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse wanted to honor the veterans he'd been caring for over 27 years by flying them to the then-newly completed World War II Memorial in the nation's capital. Many veterans couldn't manage the trip to D.C. to see the memorial themselves because of financial or physical limitations. Morse and five other pilots decided to start flying vets and accompanying guardians out at no cost to the visitors to see in person the site dedicated to their bravery.
A local chapter of the Honor Flight program was started in South Jersey in 2008 and they've made two annual trips since then.
"Since America felt it was important to build a memorial to the service and the ultimate sacrifice of her veterans, the Honor Flight Network believes it's equally important that they actually get to visit and experience their memorial," said Earl Morse, president and co-founder of the Honor Flight Network. "After everything they endured and accomplished for all of us, getting them to their memorial is the least that we can do."
Eugene Vonnetti, of Turnersville, is one of the Pacific veterans who will be making the trip to D.C. with Honor Flight of South Jersey Chapter to participate in the special screening. He seemed excited for the opportunity at participating in this special occasion, though he was quick to remind that war should not be sensationalized and the story of soldiers who fought for their country deserves to carefully be told.
"A few weeks back at an (Honor Flight) collection drive," said Vonnetti, "They started asking around if we had been in the Pacific, if we'd be interested in making this trip. They came up to us, thanked us. It was an honor, really. From the small preview (of The Pacific) I've seen so far, it's something to see, it really makes you think. War is war. It's not glamorous, but I think it's something everyone deserves to be made aware of. It is a fact of life.
"It's a matter of opinion," he said, "But I'm looking forward to it. Most guys in World War II, they've been through hell and back. Watching something like this Ð soldiers getting shot at, blown up, all very gory could get people to understand, to say, My God, is this what really happened?'"
The overall feeling among the vets is one of appreciation. They're thankful HBO respected them so much they were granted a special screening. They want their story to be told and they want it told accurately. Frank Scahill, former VFW Post 1616 Commander and co-founder of the Honor Flight of South Jersey Chapter, was excited for his brothers in arms and supportive of the mini-series' endeavor.
"This is an outstanding gesture HBO made," he said. "It's the kind of respect World War II vets deserve. It looks like it will be very emotional. It will bring up a lot of memories for these guys some good, and unfortunately, some bad. But the realism is just meant to show respect for the time these men served their country. HBO has done an awful lot of research, and I can't think of anyone else who could have handled it as well as this."
Gloucester County vets to see their story - NJ.com
Gloucester County vets to see their story
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
By DJ McAneny
djmcaneny@sjnewsco.com
A special group of veterans on Thursday will be given the respect of viewing a tribute to their lives through the eyes of some of America's best storytellers four days before that vision debuts to the rest of the world.
The Honor Flight program from Monroe Township will be transporting 250 World War II veterans who served in the Pacific theater to Washington, D.C., for a special screening of the new HBO series, "The Pacific." The story follows three soldiers in the Marine Corps from the initial assault on Guadalcanal through their return home. It was executive produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
"HBO is honored to take part in bringing some of our nation's heroic veterans to visit the World War II Memorial," said Zach Enterlin, vice president of advertising and promotions, HBO. "While 'The Pacific' is centered on the stories of only a handful of Marines, it reminds us of the sacrifices made by so many men and women in service to our country. It is critically important to acknowledge their contributions and give them our eternal thanks."
Honor Flight was started in May 2005, when physician's assistant and retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse wanted to honor the veterans he'd been caring for over 27 years by flying them to the then-newly completed World War II Memorial in the nation's capital. Many veterans couldn't manage the trip to D.C. to see the memorial themselves because of financial or physical limitations. Morse and five other pilots decided to start flying vets and accompanying guardians out at no cost to the visitors to see in person the site dedicated to their bravery.
A local chapter of the Honor Flight program was started in South Jersey in 2008 and they've made two annual trips since then.
"Since America felt it was important to build a memorial to the service and the ultimate sacrifice of her veterans, the Honor Flight Network believes it's equally important that they actually get to visit and experience their memorial," said Earl Morse, president and co-founder of the Honor Flight Network. "After everything they endured and accomplished for all of us, getting them to their memorial is the least that we can do."
Eugene Vonnetti, of Turnersville, is one of the Pacific veterans who will be making the trip to D.C. with Honor Flight of South Jersey Chapter to participate in the special screening. He seemed excited for the opportunity at participating in this special occasion, though he was quick to remind that war should not be sensationalized and the story of soldiers who fought for their country deserves to carefully be told.
"A few weeks back at an (Honor Flight) collection drive," said Vonnetti, "They started asking around if we had been in the Pacific, if we'd be interested in making this trip. They came up to us, thanked us. It was an honor, really. From the small preview (of The Pacific) I've seen so far, it's something to see, it really makes you think. War is war. It's not glamorous, but I think it's something everyone deserves to be made aware of. It is a fact of life.
"It's a matter of opinion," he said, "But I'm looking forward to it. Most guys in World War II, they've been through hell and back. Watching something like this Ð soldiers getting shot at, blown up, all very gory could get people to understand, to say, My God, is this what really happened?'"
The overall feeling among the vets is one of appreciation. They're thankful HBO respected them so much they were granted a special screening. They want their story to be told and they want it told accurately. Frank Scahill, former VFW Post 1616 Commander and co-founder of the Honor Flight of South Jersey Chapter, was excited for his brothers in arms and supportive of the mini-series' endeavor.
"This is an outstanding gesture HBO made," he said. "It's the kind of respect World War II vets deserve. It looks like it will be very emotional. It will bring up a lot of memories for these guys some good, and unfortunately, some bad. But the realism is just meant to show respect for the time these men served their country. HBO has done an awful lot of research, and I can't think of anyone else who could have handled it as well as this."
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