“HALLOWED GROUNDS”
AMERICA’S OVERSEAS MILITARY CEMETERIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Robert Uth , New Voyage Communications, 202-234-0608, "mailto:newvoy@verizon.net" Glenn Marcus, gmarcusdc@aol.com, 202-518-8646
PBS TO DEBUT NEW DOCUMENTARY ON U.S. OVERSEAS MILITARY CEMETERIES ON MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 25TH, 2009, 10 PM (EST)
NATIONAL EMMY AWARD WINNERS CRISSCROSSED THE GLOBE TO PROVIDE FIRST-EVER LOOK AT 22 U.S. WORLD WAR I AND II CEMETERIES
WASHINGTON (March 5, 2009) – Nearly 125,000 American military men and women are buried overseas in the lands where they fell. The bodies of almost 100,000 more have never been found. But not one of them has been forgotten.
This Memorial Day, May 25, at 10 pm (EST), a new PBS documentary “Hallowed Grounds” features footage of 22 overseas U.S. military cemeteries from World Wars I and II, and vignettes about the heroic men and women buried there, and those who visit them.
"We heard of these national treasures of the American Battle Monuments Commission while making THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL: A TESTAMENT TO FREEDOM, for PBS," said director-writer Robert Uth of New Voyage Communications, “and were surprised to learn that the majority of them had never been portrayed in a major documentary. Even more interesting is that most Americans are not aware of their existence.”
“Hallowed Grounds” follows the path of U.S. forces in both World Wars in eight countries: Belgium, England, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Tunisia. The documentary uses archival footage and photos to depict the battles that filled these burial grounds, and includes profiles of many of the American men and women who rest in them. Some of the featured were well known, including the poet Joyce Kilmer, two of Theodore Roosevelt’s sons, bandleader Glenn Miller, the five Sullivan brothers, and General George S. Patton. But most were ordinary men and women of all backgrounds, caught in the calamity of war.
Each of these overseas military cemeteries is a unique expression of commemorative design, with stunning landscapes, magnificent architecture, and powerful works of
sculpture and art that are tangible representations of American values. They provide a constant reminder in the countries where they reside of the tremendous sacrifice Americans had made to preserve peace and freedom in the world. And they create a fitting resting place for those who paid the ultimate price.
The documentary has received lavish praise from high-profile American war veterans. After seeing a preview of the film, former South Dakota Democratic Sen. George S. McGovern, a World War II bomber pilot, stated, “This is a superb depiction of the American military cemeteries abroad. It helps us remember the great sacrifices that young Americans made in defense of the nation.” Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, who served in the Vietnam War, was also impressed. “This documentary gives long-overdue honor and recognition to these sacred places, and the men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom around the world,” he said.
“Hallowed Grounds” is the most recent PBS work produced by Robert Uth and New Voyage Communications, along with his documentary partner Glenn Marcus. Both are the sons of World War II combat veterans. Their earlier films also include “The March of the Bonus Army,” a documentary on the World War I veterans’ march on Washington in 1932, “Korean War Stories,” which won the 2002 national Emmy Award for outstanding historical documentary, and “Tesla Master of Lighting,” a film on the visionary electrical inventor Nikola Tesla.
During the making of “Hallowed Grounds,” Marcus, who co-wrote the film, visited for the first time the grave of his father’s only sibling, interred in the Lorraine U.S. Military Cemetery in France. “I was pleased to see that the uncle I never knew is resting in this beautiful and immaculately maintained place,” he said. “It is a most worthy statement about how our country honors those who made the supreme sacrifice.”
The program is narrated by Battle of the Bulge veteran Peter Thomas, with an original score by Charlie Barnett.
Major funders for the program are the Disabled American Veterans National Service Foundation,
The Cantigny First Division Foundation of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation,
PBS, and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
Air travel was provided by American Airlines.
Links to articles on Hallowed Grounds:
-Naplesnews.com: Noted Naples veteran narrates documentary about military cemeteries
-New York Dailey News: 'Grounds' for remembering
-Cincinnati.com: Film focuses on war cemeteries
-Catolic War Veterans: NEW DOCUMENTARY ON U.S. OVERSEAS MILITARY CEMETERIES
- DAV.org: National Adjutant’s Memorial Day Message
-DAV.org: Commander’s Memorial Day Message
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A Production of New Voyage Communications
The program is narrated by Battle of the Bulge veteran Peter Thomas,
Directed by: Robert Uth
Executive producers: Robert Uth and Simonida Perica Uth
Producers,: Robert Uth and Glenn Marcus
Director of photography: Mel Henry
Written by: Robert Uth and Glenn Marcus
Original score by: Charlie Barnett
Art directions: Simonida Perica Uth
Editing / graphics: Jason Germeroth
Associate producer: Dennis Whithead