Wereth Eleven Story Sparks Congressional Action

In an incident perhaps akin to lightening striking the same producer / director twice last week US Congressman, Jim Gerlach, 6th District, Pennsylvania office in Washington reached out to me. They informed me that this coming week they planned to introduce a bill in Congress to honor the service of the fallen Wereth Eleven.

Six years ago in 2007 Congresswoman, Carolyn McCarthy, of New York spearheaded a Joint Congressional Resolution to honor the service of America's WWII glider pilots. The catalyst for her steering of the bill through the armed services committee was the release that spring of my film with Inecom Entertainment, Silent Wings: The American Glider Pilots of WWII. The glider pilots were one of the few remaining front-line units in WWII which had never had their service recognized. Congresswoman McCarthy was able to schedule the vote on the bill on the same day of Silent Wing's release, March 20, 2007. The measure went on to pass unanimously.

Jim Gerlach

In this new House Resolution being submitted for consideration this week Congressman Gerlach not only wants to recognize the service of the Wereth Eleven but the ultimate goal is to correct the Congressional War Crimes Report of 1949 by adding the war crime at Wereth to the official record. This was pointed out in our story as very much the "smoking gun" which is revealed at the end of the film.

On behalf of the production team and myself we are equal parts humbled and thrilled that our production may have played a small role in bringing the virtually unknown story of the Wereth Eleven to the attention of the American public and Congress. And the potential to literally rewrite the historical record with the addition of the Wereth Eleven war crime to the official 1949 Congressional Report is an incredible development that none of us would have ever imagined when we began the project.

In closing I'll just leave you with the rallying cry that drove my team forward in bringing the story of the Wereth Eleven to life,  "It's For the Men."

Today Marks the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address

We are proud to announce the availability of two new Gettysburg films produced by Robert Child in honor of this day. Shipping now is the official commemorative film of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg Final Measure of Devotion.

Format

Standard DVD $19.99 USD Blu-Ray DVD $29.99 USD

Gettysburg Final Measure of Devotion, written and directed by Emmy® nominated filmmaker, Robert Child, is the commemorative film of the 150th Anniversary Gettysburg National Civil War Battle Reenactment. The story highlight's Lincoln role as Commander-in-Chief.

Also now available is Gettysburg and the Civil War a new box set from PBS Home Video.

It was one of the great turning points in American history: a clash of ideologies that spilled over from the political arena and onto the battlefield, where over half a million lives were lost. The war between the Union and the Confederacy saw the country divided along geographical, racial and industrial lines, and few were spared the decision of where to pledge their loyalty. Communities were torn apart, families broken and cities destroyed.


Now, travel back to this most significant of times and experience the Civil War as you've never seen it before. This premium collection - comprising a feature-length DVD, a 24-page history of the entire conflict, and a set of rare replica memorabilia and battle maps - pays tribute to the war that divided, almost destroyed, and ultimately defined our nation. Release marks the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address.

The feature-length documentary Gettysburg: The Boys In Blue & Gray presents the crucial battle of the war as described by the soldiers who took part, with dramatic reconstructions and archive material bringing you closer than ever to the action.

Additionally, a 24-page illustrated history of the conflict provides in-depth detail and context to the events of 1861-5, looking at the key engagements and personalities that shaped the outcome of the war.

Also Includes numerous pieces of rare memorabilia sourced from the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC. - a selection of lovingly recreated replica memorabilia and battle maps that brings history alive as you've never seen it before, with letters revealing personal and military insights into the war that turned brother against brother.

This DVD features Closed Captioning

In Today's USA Today: The Wereth Eleven

Be sure to pick up a copy of today's (Nov 8th) USA Today newspaper. There is a front page article about the Wereth Eleven. We provided the reporter background and contact for the feature story. We hope it brings more awareness to the men and what happened to them.

If you want to read the story online go to this LINK.

PBS Releases "Gettysburg and the Civil War" DVD October 15th

PBS Home Video has repackaged my film, Gettysburg The Boys in Blue and Gray, in a deluxe box set. It is releasing October 15, 2013 in time to coincide with the coming 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. It is available for purchase now at PBS and other major retailers.

Gettysburg and the Civil War 

It was one of the great turning points in American history: a clash of ideologies that spilled over from the political arena and onto the battlefield, where over half a million lives were lost. The war between the Union and the Confederacy saw the country divided along geographical, racial and industrial lines, and few were spared the decision of where to pledge their loyalty. Communities were torn apart, families broken and cities destroyed.

Now, travel back to this most significant of times and experience the Civil War as you've never seen it before. This premium collection - comprising a feature-length DVD, a 24-page history of the entire conflict, and a set of rare replica memorabilia and battle maps - pays tribute to the war that divided, almost destroyed, and ultimately defined our nation.

Release marks the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address. 

The feature-length documentary Gettysburg: The Boys In Blue & Gray presents the crucial battle of the war as described by the soldiers who took part, with dramatic reconstructions and archive material bringing you closer than ever to the action.

Additionally, a 24-page illustrated history of the conflict provides in-depth detail and context to the events of 1861-5, looking at the key engagements and personalities that shaped the outcome of the war.

Also Includes numerous pieces of rare memorabilia sourced from the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC. - a selection of lovingly recreated replica memorabilia and battle maps that brings history alive as you've never seen it before, with letters revealing personal and military insights into the war that turned brother against brother.

Wereth 11 Selected to Screen at the Disney Lot in Hollywood

Walt Disney Studios, Los Angeles

GIFF Chooses Wereth as the "Best of the Best."

My production team and I received some tremendous news last week the film which I wrote and directed, The Wereth Eleven, was chosen by the GI Film Festival as, in their words, the "Best of the Best" and they have announced a gala screening of the film at the legendary Walt Disney Studios in Hollywood (actually Burbank) on November 2nd.

The Emmy® nominated film won the Founders Choice Award at the GI Film Festival in Washington, DC in 2011. The festival organizers have chosen Wereth to screen as part of a special "Veterans Week Best of GI Film Festival" event in Los Angeles. The festival runs over two days November 1st and 2nd. Wereth will screen Saturday evening, Nov. 2, at 5:30P just prior to the closing VIP Party.

Tickets are $12 and available at this link, GIFF - LA

About The Wereth Eleven:

The Wereth Eleven, Feature Documentary (60 Minutes)
Robert Child, Director
GIFF 2011 Winner, Founder’s Choice

The Wereth Eleven retraces the steps eleven black GI's from the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion took when their unit was overrun by Germans at the start of the Battle of the Bulge. Their 10-mile trek from their battery position to Wereth, Belgium would be the last journey of their lives as a local resident turned them in to an SS scouting party. Subsequently all eleven were butchered and killed in one of the least understood, as well as unknown, war crimes of WWII.


Explore More:

Watch a panel discussion about the Wereth Eleven held at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans when the film made it's premiere there. Click Here.