Belonging

Veterans

Partnering to tell Wisconsin's veteran stories

How we honor those who served - and ensure their voices are heard

For decades, PBS Wisconsin has worked alongside the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to share the stories of those who have served our state — and the nation — in our military.

Honoring service and complexity

Wisconsin’s veterans live complex lives — rightly hailed as heroes for their sacrifices — and those of their loved ones — yet sometimes met with silence or neglect upon returning home. Many served in operations that provoke intense ideological debate across the globe, placing them in the paradoxical position of being celebrated for their service while navigating the moral ambiguities and public divisions surrounding the conflicts themselves. This duality — of visible sacrifice and invisible struggle — shapes the lives of many veterans long after their time in uniform ends.

Listening to firsthand experience

Through local news coverage, historical documentaries, cultural programming, and community engagement events, the station and our partners strive to forge connections with and share a holistic understanding of our veterans.

The ambitious Wisconsin War Stories series — inclusive of three, multi-part documentaries on Wisconsin’s WWII veterans, those who served in the Korean War, and our state’s Vietnam veterans, is just one example of this effort.

Will Williams, DeForest, WI Army, 25th Infantry Division, Jan 1966–Dec 1966. (Photo from Back in the World series by Jim Gill.)

 

While I am intensely proud of Ken Burns’ [World War II] documentary, I am just as thrilled that more than 80 public television stations in all 50 states have followed Wisconsin’s lead to preserve and share the stories of their community’s World War II veterans.

Paula Kerger

Paula KergerPBS PRESIDENT

Wisconsin War Stories

Hear firsthand veteran experiences from those who have served.

DVD cover for Wisconsin WWII Stories from the Wisconsin Collection. The top features the text, “From the home front to the frontlines, Wisconsin’s veterans tell the greatest stories of their lives,” alongside a black-and-white photo of a World War II aircraft. Below is a larger photo of six smiling soldiers in uniform standing or sitting on a tank. A red box reads “Wisconsin WWII Stories,” with a badge stating, “The complete 4-part series, 4 hours on 2 DVDs.” The bottom lists “Struggle • Europe • Pacific • Home Front” and “Wisconsin World War II Stories • Parts I–IV • Wisconsin Public Television” on a green background with white stars.
DVD cover for Wisconsin Korean War Stories. Features a faded blue-toned photograph of two young men in military attire sitting on equipment, one shirtless and one in a white T-shirt with a camera strap. Text reads: “Wisconsin Veterans Tell Their Stories From the Forgotten War.” The Wisconsin Collection logo is at top, and a gold title box in the center reads “Wisconsin Korean War Stories.” Additional text: “Part I – Invasion and Part II – Stalemate, Wisconsin Public Television.”
DVD cover for “Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories: Our Veterans Remember” from Wisconsin Public Television. The design features a tinted photograph of three soldiers in combat gear, standing arm-in-arm and smiling. The title appears in bold white text on a green background with stars, listing three parts: “Escalation,” “Turning Point,” and “Draw Down.” A gold starburst notes “The complete three-hour series on two discs.”
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This has been a wonderful weekend, I feel so much peace now. Thanks to all for the welcome home.

Event attendeeLZ LAMBEAU

 

In telling our stories I feel we have all finally started the healing process even though it is still very hard for me and all the others to tell about our experiences.

Staff Sergeant James E. MagruderVietnam War Stories

 

A powerful, honest, gut-wrenching portrayal of the Vietnam veteran in our own words … Thank you.

Viewer commentVietnam War Stories

An overdue civic homecoming

In May 2010, more than 70,000 people gathered at Lambeau Field in Green Bay for LZ Lambeau, a three-day tribute to Wisconsinites who served in Vietnam. Created through a collaboration of our partners, the event was designed as a civic homecoming for veterans who had never received one, having returned in 1973 to a divided nation amid economic struggle.

Anchored by the documentary Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories, the event included film screenings, community workshops and a solemn ceremony honoring the 1,244 Wisconsinites killed or missing in the conflict. A motorcycle Honor Ride, one rider for each of the fallen, stretched 210 miles. At Lambeau Field, a grid of empty chairs — one for each life lost — stood witness. Through interviews, panel discussions, and archival production, the project created space for complex truths — including those of loss, protest and re-entry.

A legacy that continues to travel

This work continues today. In 2024, PBS Wisconsin joined the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and Wisconsin Public Radio to launch Wisconsin Remembers: A Face for Every Name — a traveling exhibit bringing portraits of fallen Vietnam veterans to libraries and community spaces statewide.

Collectively, these projects ensure veterans’ stories are not only preserved, but shared — publicly, personally and across Wisconsin.

LZ Lambeau

Revisit LZ Lambeau through photographs, videos, the Wisconsin Honor Roll, and educational resources.

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