Student filmmakers bond with families of fallen. Documentary depicts Vermont's grief

[Ian David]

By Jenna Russell, Globe Staff | February 26, 2007

NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- When they set out to make a documentary about Vermont servicemen killed in Iraq, the young filmmakers were terrified to call the grieving families. Students at Norwich University, a small, private military college in central Vermont, they expected to be cursed at, yelled at, and hung up on.

They never imagined that one year later, the heartbroken mothers and fathers would consider them friends.

"They've been so respectful and loyal and protective of the families," said Marion Gray, whose stepson, Sergeant Jamie Gray , died in Iraq in 2004. "They have helped assure all these families that our soldiers will not be forgotten, and no one else has been able to do that."

By the time the film was finished last month, the students had contacted the families of 25 servicemen who have been killed -- 18 from Vermont, and seven others with family from the state. More remarkably, they had persuaded someone from each family to be interviewed on camera. Their 60-minute film, "Vermont Fallen," was shown for the first time Saturday on campus. More than 150 family members of the dead soldiers attended, said Amanda Benson , one of the student filmmakers.

The students will tour Vermont high schools this spring to show the film, and the college plans to submit it to national cable networks, including the History Channel, in hopes of reaching a wider audience.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2007/02/26/student_filmmakers_bond_with_families_of_fallen/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. The price of war

will come home to folks. Hope this sobers up some of the 101st Chairborne Division who rah rah all over the place about how glorious war is.

[Ian David]

2. I call them The Couchwaffen GOP. n/t