A Salute to Service
Observe Veterans Day with programming that shares veterans’ stories, provides insight into history and honors the sacrifice of those who served.
Veterans Day 2025
Published on
My Grandparents’ War
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturdays, Nov. 1 & 8, at 5 PM
Follow international stars as they journey into the past to learn about their grandparents’ wartime experiences, and discover the extraordinary impact of global conflict on their families.
Corpsman! Pearl Harbor
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2 PM
Harry Chandler arrived at Pearl Harbor in September 1941, serving as a United States Navy Corpsman. He believed his time in Hawaii would be paradise, a stark contrast to the cold winters of New England. However, on December 7, 1941, Harry’s world was shaken by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oahu. On that “Day of Infamy,” his duty became saving lives and retrieving charred bodies from the harbor’s waters. CORPSMAN! PEARL HARBOR, narrated by sports commentator Jim Nantz, follows Harry’s story on that day and the days that followed America’s sudden entry into World War II, while also examining the role of corpsmen and medics during the war.
Marauder Men: In Their Own Words
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1)
Sunday, Nov. 9, from 3-4:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Monday, Nov. 10, from 8-9:30 PM
In the 1990s, the B-26 Marauder Historical Society taped oral histories detailing the WWII experiences of B-26 Marauder pilots, known as “Marauder Men.” This three-part docuseries is an intimate look at that footage. These interviews capture a history of the oft-forgotten bomber that was almost lost. Over decades, the MAPS Museum in Canton has restored one of only six B-26s left in existence.
Veterans of America — Our Heroes in Uniform: Out of Our Brains, Not Out of Our Minds
PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4:30 PM
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, affects hundreds of thousands of veterans. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. This 30-minute documentary, produced by Canton resident Ron Ponder, talks about some of the research and treatments of veterans and the general public of today.
Memoirs of World War II
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, Nov. 9, at 5 PM
Less than 3% of those who served during World War II are still alive today. Once they are gone, what will happen to the story of their sacrifice? Through personal accounts of real-life World War II veterans, this local program, dedicated to preserving the history and memories of those who served in the war, honors their sacrifice.
Shrapnel Down: My Korean War Story
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 PM
In 1952, Gunner’s Mate Bill Rector was serving on the USS Los Angeles during the height of the Korean War. Using an 8mm camera, Bill documented his war experiences, including battles during the Blockade of Wonsan — the longest naval blockade in modern history. SHRAPNEL DOWN: MY KOREAN WAR STORY shares this never-before-seen war footage, alongside an interview with Bill, to offer a glimpse into the story of one American war veteran, as seen through the lens of his own camera.
Salute to Service 2025: A Veterans Day Celebration
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / 49.1)
Monday, Nov. 10, at 9 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 2 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / 49.2)
Thursday, Nov. 13, at 9 PM
Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4 PM
Country music legend Trace Adkins joins the U.S. Army Field Band to host SALUTE TO SERVICE 2025: A VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION. Featuring unforgettable performances by opera superstar Angel Blue, jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and Trace Adkins himself.
Breaking Enigma: A World War II Game Changer
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / 49.1)
Monday, Nov. 10, at 10 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 3 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / 49.2)
Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8 PM
The breaking of Germany’s top-secret Enigma Code at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom was one of World War II’s biggest secrets, alongside the construction of the atomic bombs. Some historians estimate that deciphering the German military code shortened the war by two years and possibly saved 14 million lives. Though the Enigma was deemed unbreakable, a British mathematician named Alan Turing spearheaded the initiative to achieve the impossible and succeeded unbeknownst to the German military. Narrated by Keith Morrison of Dateline and filmed on location in England and the United States, BREAKING ENIGMA: A WORLD WAR II GAME CHANGER tells this heroic story in detail through a combination of interviews with historians, veterans and modern scientists.
Two Wars: No Mail, Low Morale
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / 49.2)
Monday, Nov. 10, at 9:30 PM
During World War II, a shortage of soldiers managing the postal service created a backlog of mail and packages that never made it to their intended destinations. Officials knew the undelivered mail was hurting morale but were unsure how to solve the problem. To address this issue, Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator and political activist, advocated for the enlistment of women of color in the Women’s Army Corps. TWO WARS: NO MAIL, LOW MORALE tells the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (also known as the Six-Triple-Eight), a group of 824 women who served in the Women’s Army Corps. Under the command of Major Charity Edna Adams, the Six-Triple-Eight created a card index system to efficiently process mail and completed numerous critical missions that contributed to the war effort. Despite their significant contributions, the battalion received little recognition and was disbanded upon return to the U.S. It took 50 years before their heroic efforts were properly acknowledged.
The Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / 49.2)
Monday, Nov. 10, at 10 PM
Saturday, Nov. 15, at noon
In 2004, America fought the two deadliest battles of the Iraq War: Najaf, in the south, against the Shiite Mahdi militia, and Fallujah, in the west, against Sunni insurgents. The words and deeds of those who fought there reveal the ground truth.
Stream THE LAST 600 METERS: THE BATTLES OF NAJAF AND FALLUJAH.
American Heart in WWI: A Carnegie Hall Tribute
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / 49.1)
Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 8 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 1 AM
Experience this electrifying live theatrical event, created and narrated by historian John Monsky, that brings America’s World War I story to life through a dynamic fusion of breathtaking music, powerful storytelling and unforgettable characters.
The Greatest Bond
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / 49.1)
Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 PM
Follow this inspirational and heartwarming documentary, which highlights the journey of disabled veterans whose lives are forever changed through the unconditional love of service dogs that have been expertly trained by female prison inmates. Join three veterans as they meet their service dog and work directly with the inmates in a Texas women’s prison.
