Grand Rapids Community Foundation is pleased to sponsor THE WAR, a new seven-part documentary series that explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective. It follows lives of men and women caught up in one human history’s greatest conflicts. Six years in the making, this 14-hour film features personal stories of four citizens from different American towns. Individuals from each community take the viewer through their own journeys into war, telling how the war dramatically altered their own and neighbors’ lives, as well as the country they helped save, for generations to come.

THE WAR, directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, will air on WGVU-TV, Channel 35. The series will air over two weeks, starting Sunday, September 23, 2007 (four nights the first week and three nights the second week), at 8:00 p.m.

Community Foundation Spotlights Some Special Local Veterans

As part of its sponsorship, the Community Foundation and Chuck Peterson created this 15-second promotional video (click to view), which will run during the airing of the series. The video salutes four of our donors who, in addition to turning 85 this year, served our country during World War II. We extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to veterans Conrad Bradshaw, Cal Owen and Herb Knape and we salute Patricia Muth who volunteered stateside. To all men and women of that generation, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation thanks you.