BEYOND THE WAR

Wyoming World War II veterans are being highlighted in a series of videotaped interviews that are airing on Wyoming PBS. These short interstitial pieces have been collected from veterans in Riverton, Thermopolis, Powell/Cody, Casper, Cheyenne, Lingle, Sheridan and Buffalo.

The vignettes are part of Wyoming PBS's statewide World War II story collection project which is part of a national community engagement initiative sponsored by WETA Public Television, PBS and Florentine Films designed to accompany the airing of the PBS/Ken Burns' film THE WAR.

"Our goal during this Wyoming PBS outreach project is first, to preserve these important stories from Wyoming's World War II veterans," said General Manager Ruby Calvert, "and secondly, through broadcast of the stories, to bring new awareness to the contributions of our veterans for the freedoms that we all enjoy in this country. Producing these stories and sharing them with our viewers has been an incredibly rewarding experience and WPTV looks forward to airing them and also showcasing them on our website."

Wwyoming PBS's promotions manager Jennifer Amend directed the project and WPTV's promotion producer Dean King did all the shooting and editing of the 35 spots, which were funded by an outreach grant from WETA and the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.

"World War II consumed the entire country, but in very different ways," said PBS documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. "We're hopeful that through local story telling many of the stories of the war that go above and beyond what could be included in any one film are documented and that people throughout the country have an opportunity to share their experiences."

THE WAR, a co-production of Florentine Films and WETA Washington, DC, is a seven-part, 14-hour film directed and produced by Burns and his longtime co-producer, Lynn Novick. The film premiered in September, 2007, and will be rebroadcast on Wyoming PBS Wednesdays at 8 p.m. through November 14, 2007.

Veteran Stories

Photos and quotes of the veterans are available online. To view a story, click on a picture of a veteran below:

Zeke Alexander
Powell, WY

Johnnie Baker
Scottsbluff, NE

Henry Bury
Thermopolis, WY

Ernest Casner
Cheyenne, WY

Ed Deaton
Cody, WY

Jack Kelliher
Riverton, WY

Earl Mackenzie
Cheyenne, WY

Vernon Nix
Casper, WY

Sinclair Orendorff
Powell, WY

Anna Rose
Cheyenne, WY

Frank Schultz
Sheridan, WY

Lowell Slayton
Buffalo, WY

Joel Teeters
Lingle, WY

Emma Tomes
Thermopolis, WY

Bill White
Powell, WY

Howard Woody
Mtn View, WY

Hewitt Youtz
Riverton, WY

Wyoming Vets Take a Sentimental Journey

Monday, August 20 marked a special day for two Wyoming vets. World War II veteran B-17 flyers Paul Purvis of Cody and Ernest Casner of Cheyenne took to the skies in the B-17 bomber "Sentimental Journey", which was on display at the Riverton Regional Airport.

Click here to read more and view pictures of their "Sentimental Journey."