"The Way We Get By" PBS tonight

[Rhonda]

Public Broadcasting nationwide is showing the documentary "The Way We Get By" filmed in Bangor Maine about the troop greeters at the airport there. These people have greeted every flight coming in from overseas for years. They make sure the soldiers are all welcomed home. The documentary is highly regarded and this is it's first public showing. It will be on at 9 p.m. (same time as Flowers Uncut) but comes highly recommended.

 

[elmo]

Guess I'll have to flip-flop between the two and talk on live chat too.haha
I've been reading ya'lls post on this man designing on tv, have to check it out.
Had my coffee so I'll stay up past 9 tonight.First time in a month I've been awake past 7pm on a Wed. night.Nice not to roll off the couch and climb in bed 2 or 3 am.Husband turns off tv and leaves me there, says I'm the devil when wakes me so he leaves me.

 

[peggy70130]

Oh shoot! I missed this. I used to be one of the greeters, back when it started during Desert Storm. I grew up in Bangor, moved away, moved back, moved away, moved back and I'm in Louisiana now. It always felt like such an honor to be one of the first to welcome these wonderful men and women home.

People would bake goodies to hand out, have teddy bears to hand out, all kinds of things. We even would smuggle beer in to hand out since they weren't allowed to have it over there,

 

[Kristine]

I heard about this program on NPR yesterday and wanted to see it.
Unfortunately since the digital move we can't get public tv. dang. dang, dang.

 

[Rhonda]

It was in depth on the greeters (the older guard), their lives, their homes (pretty disturbing on one of them), their families and the troops that came home and went to war. It was wonderfully tender, touching, and those that allowed the film makers access to their personal lives deserve the recognition they never sought. Highly provocative. I hope the film gets an award for these two film makers. BTW the film makers put all their earnings into this film. They were planning to get married but had no money to do so. A group of businesses including a wedding planner, a resort, florists, caterers, dress shops all gave them a wedding late this summer. All free of charge.
You can watch it here: (thanks Erl)
http://video.pbs.org/video/1321508265

 

[Erlene]

You're welcome Rhonda. It is very interesting to read the update on Bill, Joan and Jerry, they've been touring with the film. I didn't have an opportunity to finish reading all the updates yet but did read one where Joan got to meet the vice president at the White House. Presumably Bill and Jerry did as well.

And yes, Bill's story is very sad and compelling at the same time and his living conditions were horrendous. Much like many elderly citizens across our country.

I would highly recommend anyone watch this, you will feel incredible pride in our country and feel the power of what one tiny group of people can accomplish and how they can impact a million lives.