The War, Ken Burns’ seven-part documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, was the most-watched PBS series of the past 10 years. It explored the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective by following the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who become caught up in one of the greatest cataclysms in human history.
WILL-TV’s Central Illinois World War II Stories was developed in conjunction with the Ken Burns’ series.
Visit The War web site on PBS.org
Share Your Story
PBS is gathering WWII stories from viewers across the United States. Upload your story to PBS for sharing with all other viewers. If you need assistance, contact Mary Barrineau or Jack Brighton at 217-333-1070.
This project supported in part by:
Clark Lindsey Village
Ecowater Systems
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #601
Strawberry Fields
Steamatic
WETA
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Central Illinois World War II Stories: Events
Gathering stories from your community
Every community in America was affected by WWII. What was the impact on your community? WILL and its community partners hosted 12 events throughout central Illinois to explore that question, to preview of Ken Burns film “The War,” and to discuss WWII stories unique to your community. We also videotaped the stories of veterans and their families to archive on our Web site. If you are interested in telling your story, call Mary Barrineau at 217-244-5080.
Community Screening Events
Springfield
7-9 pm Thursday, September 6, 2007
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Union Theater
112 North Sixth Street
Springfield, IL
View WILL-TV's announcement of this event
Contact:
Mark De Pue
217-558-8949
mark.depue@illinois.gov
http://www.alplm.org/contact/home.htm
Rantoul
7-9 pm Thursday, September 20, 2007
Rantoul Business Center
601 S. Century Blvd.
Rantoul, IL
http://www.aeromuseum.org/contact.html
Original members of the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron formed during World War II at Chanute Field join a discussion about WWII at Chanute. Participating will be Elmer Jones, one of six original aviation cadets to be trained at Chanute; Mrs. Edith Roberts, widow of George “Spanky” Roberts, who was the first commander of the 99th Pursuit Squadron at Tuskegee; and Mrs. Eunice Dansby Gingery of Decatur, widow of Ellsworth Dansby, who was one of the first enlisted volunteers to arrive at Chanute Field in 1941.
Contact:
Mark Hanson
217-893-1613
curator@aeromuseum.org
Champaign
2:30-4:30 pm Thursday, October 4, 2007
Parkland College, Room W115, Tony Noel Center
2400 W. Bradley Ave.
Champaign, IL
Hear local stories about experiences during World War II. Amy E. Wolff, granddaughter of an Austrian who escaped the Holocaust by moving to China, and Lynda Warfel Fishel, whose father died in WWII, will share their stories. See excerpts from Ken Burns’ series, The War.
Contact
Jan Simon
217-373-3818
jsimon@parkland.edu
Urbana
6:30pm-8:30pm Thursday, October 4, 2007
Urbana Free Library, Meeting Room
210 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL
http://www.prairienet.org/ufl/
Hear local stories with a female perspective on the war and meet women who share their experiences. One of them, Yukiko Okinaga Llewellyn, was interned with her mother at Manzanar camp in California. Iris Lundin was a member of the newly founded Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, blazing a trail for other women. See excerpts from Ken Burns’ series, The War.
Contact:
Anke Voss
217-367-4025
avoss@tufl.info
Bloomington
Sunday, November 11, 2007
McLean County Museum of History
200 N. Main Street
Bloomington, IL
10:45 am
Veteran's Day Ceremony
American Legion Louis E. Davis Post 56
The War Memorial
11:45 am to 1 pm
Central Illinois WWII Stories
Court Room
Join us for a Veterans’ Day ceremony, meet extraordinary local men and women from McLean County who served in WWII and view a segment of Ken Burns’ film The War. WILL partners for this free event are the American Legion Louis E. Davis Post 56 and the McLean County Museum of History.
Contact:
Jeff Woodard
309-827-0428
marketing@mchistory.org
Mahomet
7 pm Thursday, October 11, 2007
Early American Museum
Illinois Route 47
Mahomet, IL
http://www.earlyamericanmuseum.org/
Hear Art Leenerman of Mahomet, Don McCall of Champaign, and Earl Riggins of Oakland, survivors of the USS Indianapolis disaster. See excerpts from Ken Burns’ series, The War.
Contact:
Cheryl Kennedy
217-586-2612
ckennedy@ccfpd.org
Danville
7-9 pm October 16, 2007
Danville Public Library
319 N. Vermilion
Danville, IL
http://www.danville.lib.il.us/
The Danville Public Library has been videotaping oral histories of local residents. Some of those residents, John Sant, Bill Kannapel, Helen Montgomery, Gerald Sooley and Charlie Dukes, share their stories with Mary Coffman, retired humanities professor from Danville Area Community College. See excerpts from Ken Burns’ series, The War
Contact:
Barb Nolan
217-477-5220
bnolan@danville.lib.il.us
Hoopeston
6:30-8:30 October 25, 2007
Hoopeston Public Library
110 N. Fourth Street
Hoopeston, IL
Hoopeston was home to a German POW camp from which prisoners were taken to area farm fields and factories to work during packing season. Local historian Carol Hicks will talk about her findings on the camp and people who worked with the German POWs will describe their experiences. AM 580 news director Tom Rogers will play his radio story that includes an interview with one of the camp’s former prisoners. See excerpts from Ken Burns’ series, The War.
Contact:
Lou Graham
217-283-6711
lou@hooplib.org
Taping Events
Hoopeston
10 am-5 pm, Thursday, November 8, 2007
Hoopeston Public Library
110 N. Fourth Street
Hoopeston, IL