Since retirement in 2000 from teaching Special Education for 35 years in a Brooklyn High School, I have formed a nonprofit called Any Veteran to produce documentaries about local veterans.
I was always interested in American history and, when I found out that 34 men in my senior community were WW II veterans, my film career was started. I recorded their stories, sent them to the Library of Congress and premiered the WW II documentary at the Flagler College Auditorium to over 800 people.
All five of my documentaries have been broadcast on WJCT-TV, the PBS affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida. The documentaries (like this one featuring World War II vets) are also at museums across the country, local schools, libraries and colleges.
As a non-veteran, I have always appreciated and respected those who served. I speak at many school events, at Flagler College, and the University of North Florida about the men in the documentaries, many of whom accompany me. We have also spoken at the Amelia Island Museum of History, the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando and the Museum of Science & History in Jacksonville.
The stories of our neighbors who have served heroically, but not often spoken about, always creates interest when audiences hear directly from these men.
Older workers often have more life skills, background information and knowledge history. Given a chance, the older generation will surprise many with what they do to better educate the community.