News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2014
Mari Irby
601-432-6565 | mari.irby@mpbonline.org
Mississippi Veterans Honored on “Mississippi Roads” Episode
The “Roads” crew travels to Hattiesburg, Natchez, Jackson and Washington, D.C.
JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) pays tribute to war veterans with a new episode of “Mississippi Roads” airing May 15 at 7 p.m. on MPB TV. The show features Hattiesburg’s Armed Forces Museum, the Natchez 1812 Reenactment, and the WWII Dutch Memorial at Jackson’s Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Viewers will also get a glimpse of Washington, D.C. when host Walt Grayson travels with Mississippi veterans to visit the war memorials in our nation’s capital.
“I am constantly amazed at the creative, kind-hearted and genuine people that we have in Mississippi. It is a great honor to be able to bring their stories to life for our viewers each week on ‘Mississippi Roads’,” said Key Ivy, the program’s executive producer. “We never run into a shortage of people or places to feature on the show. The toughest part of our job is cutting their stories down to fit into the show.”
The May 15 episode opens with 80 Mississippi WWII veterans being recognized with an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. The day-trip included a visit to the WWII Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“Everywhere we went people were coming up to our veterans and thanking them for their service,” said Grayson.
The “Roads” crew also visits the Natchez 1812 Reenactment at the Gordon House Historic Site just outside of Natchez. Over 2,000 visitors and volunteers from 15 historical associations meet each year to commemorate a historic troop “muster” for military training during the War of 1812.
Grayson then takes viewers on a tour of the Armed Forces Museum established in 2001 at Camp Shelby in Forrest County. With 46,000 annual visitors, the museum is dedicated to the men and woman of the armed forces and our nation’s military history.
The show wraps us with a look at the “Flying Dutchmen” of Jackson. Find out the WWII story behind the 500 Dutchmen who trained in Jackson and how they won the hearts of some the local girls. The city of Jackson gave the Netherlands a plot of land in Cedar Lawn Cemetery to serve as a World War II memorial and burial for the Dutch forces. To this day the cemetery plot is considered Dutch soil.
“Mississippi Roads” is an original production of MPB and is in its 23rd season. Visit www.mpbonline.org/mississippiroads or Facebook for more information.
Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) provides instructional and public affairs programming to Mississippians through its statewide television and radio network. MPB enhances the work of educators, students, parents and learners of all ages by providing informative programming and educational resources. MPB’s locally-produced programming focuses on the people, resources and attractions that reflect Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Children’s television programs constitute a major portion of the daytime and weekend morning schedules. MPB provides a valuable resource to Mississippians in disseminating information as part of the state’s emergency preparedness and response system. Since 1970, MPB has won over 400 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards. For more information on MPB, its programs, mission or educational resources, please visit www.mpbonline.org.
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