WETA TV 26 Salutes Service With Honored to Serve and 2016 National Memorial Day Concert

[April 20, 2016; Arlington, VA] – The television series Honored to Serve spotlights those who serve in America’s military and their families at home, seeking to foster a deeper appreciation of the U.S. military and its history. A broadcast and community engagement initiative from WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital, the television series features local people, places and history recognizing service personnel and their families as an integral part of the American family. A WETA TV 26 production, Honored to Serve includes five 30-minute specials airing Sunday, May 29th on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD.

“WETA is proud to explore the stories of those who serve in the military in the Greater Washington area community, drawing a deeper local connection to the men and women in uniform,” notes Kevin Harris, WETA Vice President and Television Station Manager.

Honored to Serve features stories on service members, memorials in Greater Washington, andother topics surrounding American forces. Selected segments will be featured at the 2016 GI Film Festival May 21-29 in Washington, D.C. The Honored to Serve initiative will continue through 2017, leading up to the premiere of the upcoming Ken Burns documentary The Vietnam War.

Following the Honored to Serve broadcast on May 29th will be an encore presentation of the Regional Emmy®-winning WETA television documentary Arlington National Cemetery from 7:00-8:00pm; and the live broadcast of the 2016 National Memorial Day concert from 8:00-9:00pm.

Honored to Serve: Sunday, May 29, 2016 on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD

Local Heroes – Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 3:30-4:00pm
A look at the U.S. Army Band, U.S. Army Artists, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The National Park Service’s Museum Resource Center, and National Capital Honor Flights.

The Art of the Soldier – Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 4:00-4:30pm
Spotlighting military artists, musicians and arts in military history, focusing on the art collection at Fort Belvoir and the real “Monuments Men.”

Never Forgotten – Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 4:30-5:00pm
From war memorials and the Tomb of the Unknowns, to JFK’s gravesite and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, those who give their service to the nation are never forgotten.

Ultimate Sacrifice – Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 5:00-5:30pm
A focus on rituals at Arlington National Cemetery, and visiting memorials throughout the national capital area.

Vietnam Remembered – Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 6:30-7:00pm
The story of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and those who make it their care to maintain the Wall.

2016 National Memorial Day Concert on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD
Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 8:00-9:00pm
Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna co-host the 27th broadcast of the night of remembrance live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, honoring the service and sacrifice of American men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for the nation.

Visit weta.org for additional information. Press materials and photography can be found at weta.org/press.

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About WETA
WETA Television and Classical WETA 90.9 FM are public broadcasting stations serving the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia with high-quality programming. Classical WETA 90.9 FM brings classical music, concerts and specials to Greater Washington. As the leading PBS station in the nation’s capital, WETA Television broadcasts on four channels: WETA TV 26, WETA HD, WETA UK and WETA Kids. WETA Television celebrates the people and history of this region through programs such as WETA Around Town, WETA Extras and WETA Arts. For national PBS audiences, WETA Washington, D.C., is one of the largest-producing stations of new content for public television in the United States, with news and public affairs programs including PBS NewsHour and Washington Week with Gwen Ifill; films by Ken Burns such as The Civil War and The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; and performance specials from the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. WETA creates leading public service websites such as www.ReadingRockets.org, www.LDOnline.org, www.ColorinColorado.org, www.AdLit.org and www.Brainline.org; and develops community outreach programs to engage people of all ages in the joy of lifelong learning. The WETA studios and administrative offices are located in Arlington, Virginia. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org. On social media, visit www.facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook or follow @WETAtvfm on Twitter.