The Film is Part of the Ongoing CD 7 Veterans Oral History Project

Lakewood, CO – To commemorate Veterans' Day 2011, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) will host a screening of a new documentary, Operation Detachment, Stories from Iwo Jima, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 at the Community College of Aurora. The hour long film, produced for the Library of Congress and filmed by students at the Community College of Aurora, presents the stories of nine Colorado WWII Veterans who fought at the battle of Iwo Jima. 

"The stories these veterans have to tell teach us important lessons about the resilience of our people, communities and nation," said Perlmutter.  "We are a great nation, made up of courageous people willing to sacrifice for our country.  And we can do anything if we set our minds to it. I am so proud of these men, of my country, and the determination of all those who continue to risk their lives and stand strong for us each and every day." 

Details of Friday's Film Premier are below.  The public and members of the media are invited to attend.  Please RSVP to Leslie Oliver by Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at 5 p.m.  Additionally, digital versions of the film and DVDs will be available through Perlmutter's office.  Please contact us if you'd like a copy.

What:                   Rep. Ed Perlmutter's Veterans' Oral History Project Film Premier

                                Operation Detachment: Stories from Iwo Jima

When:                 Fri., Nov. 11, 2011

                                Noon - 2 p.m.

Where:                Community College of Aurora

                                Fine Arts Building Room F-100

                                1600 E. CentreTech Parkway

                                Aurora, CO

The film presents the stories and histories of nine of the 11 Colorado WWII Veterans who made an historic return to Iwo Jima in 2010 to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of that bloody battle.  The group, who travelled with The Greatest Generations Foundation, got stranded in Okinawa and almost did not make it to Iwo  Jima because their charter flight was cancelled at the last minute.  Perlmutter and his office worked through numerous channels and were finally able to help the group reach Iwo Jima in time to mark the anniversary.  To learn more about their miraculous journey, click here.

This film is the second film produced by Perlmutter's office as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans Oral History Project.  The first film, The Wars We Fought debuted on Veterans Day 2007 and won numerous film awards during the last four years.

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