Dominic Fredianelli signed up for the National Guard after graduating high school not so much out of a sense of patriotism, but because it seemed like the best opportunity around: one weekend a month of training, a $20,000 signing bonus, and much-needed college tuition support. Soon, ten of Dominic’s friends also joined up. “Where Soldiers Come From” tells the effect of one National Guard Unit’s Deployment on this group of lifelong friends – and the town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that they leave behind.
The documentary had its national broadcast premiere on Thursday, November 10 on the PBS program POV. But you can now CLICK HERE to watch the full film online.
Coming Soon to the National Mall
Today, Bob also talks to Jan Scruggs, Founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. He conceived the idea for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC and oversaw its design and installation, without the use of any Federal funds. Now, he’s planning the future “Education Center at the Wall.”
Linda Schwartz is the commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Veterans Affairs and is leading the effort in that state to collect photos of all their Vietnam veterans to include in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Center in Washington, DC. She’s a Vietnam veteran herself and she discusses the value of matching a face with a name, and of preserving their stories.
For additional information about the Education Center, click here: http://www.buildthecenter.org/.
Veterans should be credited for their deeds. It's great that the government and other people are doing something for them.
Let's not revise history regarding the Viet Nam war. It was senseless and posed no danger to U.S> security, so when Ms. Schwartz says U.S. forces were protetcing America, she is wrong. What is true is that many major U.S. officials, including McNamara, have said that the Vietnam war a mistake, so the loss of life was tragic, but not needed. It is also worth noting that Vietnam was fought by many draftees, who were paid a few thousand a year (not a month) to fight that war. Compare that to the $100,000+ per year contractors who now receive free room and board and get paid tax free to conduct other unnecessary wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.