Documentary produced by the NM Dept. of Veterans' Services Accepted for Screening at Third Annual GI Film Festival

(SANTA FE, NM)- "Soldiers of Honor"--a documentary movie created by the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services--will be shown at the prestigious Third Annual G.I. Film Festival next week in Washington, D.C.

Soldiers of Honor focuses on the first-ever visit of 40 World War II veterans from southern New Mexico to the National World War II Monument in Washington D.C. last fall. The group made the journey as part of the “Honor Flight Program” which pays for first-time visits of WWII veterans to the WW II National Memorial.

The documentary is one of only 48 entries accepted by the film festival out of more than 700 entries submitted from around the world.

Beginning May 13th, these 48 entries will be shown in front of studio executives, movie distributors, members of U.S. Congress, and military movie buffs. An awards ceremony wraps up the festival on May 17th.

Many entries were produced and directed by Hollywood studios and professional production companies. Among the VIP’s invited to attend and whose movies will be screened are superstar actors Tom Cruise, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, and NMDVS Cabinet Secretary John M. Garcia.

“I am honored to have our documentary included in this prestigious film festival, said Secretary Garcia. “Our department is grateful that this film festival will allow more people to learn about our New Mexico’s contribution to World War II--and of the sacrifices our WW II veterans made in defending our country during the greatest conflict the world has ever seen.”

The G.I. film festival was founded as a means of honoring the heroic stories of the men and women serving in the American Armed Forces, and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty.

“This honor confirms New Mexico’s 400 year-old military legacy," said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a long-time supporter of veterans causes. "I am pleased to see more New Mexico made films that support as well as honor our veterans’ legacy,”

The NMDVS commissioned Peabody and Emmy-Award winning director E. Anthony Martinez to follow the group—from its departure, the cross-country flight, a welcoming reception, and the eventual arrival at the monument site.

Martinez’s camera captures the moods, feelings and thoughts of these veterans as they reflect on their wartime service and what it means to finally visit the monument. All are in their mid-to-late eighties. Many are in wheelchairs, or need assistance in getting around. All were extremely overcome with emotion upon visiting the memorial site.

“For most of the men and the one woman making the trip, this will be their final mission”, Martinez laments. “This short story is a simple travelogue of a profound journey nearly 70 years in the making.”

Martinez’s father, Eduardo Martinez, a member of New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery, survived the Bataan Death March and three and a half-years in Japanese captivity. He died in 1989 - four years before former President Bill Clinton authorized the establishment of a national World War Two Memorial in 1993.

According to NMDVS Secretary Garcia, the intent of the NMDVS in creating Soldiers of Honor was not to entertain, but to educate. The documentary is part of the departments ongoing New Mexico Military Legacy Project to preserve the state’s rich military tradition. The NMDVS believes it is important for future generations to learn about how their ancestors sacrificed to preserve freedom here at home.

“Soldiers of Honor” is the second film produced as part of that project. In 2008 the department funded “Letters of Honor”, a one-hour documentary featuring eight New Mexico veterans and their war stories--told in their own words--through letters sent home from the battlefields. Some of these letters were read on-camera by the veteran who wrote it. Others are read by surviving family members.

Letters of Honor aired on Albuquerque PBS television station KNME-TV in November of 2008. The film was also directed by Martinez, who has several other projects under consideration.