This past weekend was the GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C. I personally only got the chance to see one movie, however I heard the rest of the films at the festival were quite good.
The movie I viewed was called The Way We Get By. It's documentary chronicling the journey of 3 Maine Greeters as they cope with aging while at the same time trying to make an impact in lives of service members as they prepare to go or come home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Anyone in uniform that has deployed has fond memories of that line of people greeting you as you get off the plane. To be honest, both times I went over and came back, I remember the greeters, but I never paused to ponder what they were doing and let their personal sacrifice sink in. Going over, I was to focused and nervous about what awaited me in the sandbox. Coming back, I was too excited for family, that first beer, that first Taco Bell meal, etc.
This film captures these three and their personal struggles as they serve their country in the best way they know how. Not they are generic characters at all, but for those that have served they all represent people we had in our lives during our service. Joan, who in the end of documentary watches her granddaughter deploy to Iraq, is the mother or mother-figure we all had with us. She is so proud of everyone's service, but she frets over our safety and even questions the reasons for going to war in the first place. Jerry is that eternal optimist that everyone had in their unit. There was always that one guy in your unit that no matter how bad it got, he could always put a smile on your face or make you laugh out loud. Jerry is definitely that guy. Finally, William Knight is that stoic leader, who always seems to be mulling over something.
William (Bill) Knight was at the screening and answered a few audience questions. He seemed to be happy that movie brought attention to what the Maine Greeters were doing, but did not want to take any personal credit. One issue that I would have liked to seen addressed (and I'm kicking myself for not asking directly) would have been Veterans Health.
Jerry and Bill are both veterans, Bill of the Navy and Army and Jerry of the Marine Corps. In the documentary, they are seen receiving care a few times each. I would have liked to have known if those were at VA Centers or if they received any benefits from the VA. I would have also like to have known their opinions of the VA system as well, if they were indeed utilizing it. We tend to focus some much on Iraq/Afghanistan Vet now, we forget we still have our obligation to the veterans that served before to uphold.
Overall, you will not be disappointed if you get a chance to see this movie. I don't think there was a dry eye in the theater so you are warned. Right now, they are still screening it around the country, but the DVD should be out by late summer.