Memorial Day
Remembering and Honoring Our Heroes
Since the late 1860s, we’ve set aside a day to decorate the graves of our nation’s war heroes, a tradition that evolved into Memorial Day. Join us as we remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
Tune-in
National Memorial Day Concert
Returning live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise host the 34th annual broadcast concert honoring the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.
KET Sunday, May 28 at 8/7 pm & 9:30/8:30 pm
After Action: Pledge of Allegiance
In this episode, veterans Dr. Sam Babu, Mazin Mozan and Nick Paz discuss their personal connection to citizenship and its impact on military service.
KET2 Thursday, May 25 at 10/9 pm
Bataan: The Harrodsburg Tankers
Learn the story of 66 men from Harrodsburg who fought in the Philippines during WWII and experienced the Bataan Death March.
KETKY Monday, May 29 at 8/7 pm
Legends of the Sky: The Liberty Plane
When the US entered WWI, its Army Air Service lacked a combat-ready aircraft which prompted a search to find an aircraft suitable for production at home and combat operations abroad. This documentary from Bowling Green filmmakers tells the story behind the single-engine DH-4 plane dubbed The Liberty Plane.
KET Monday, May 29 at 8/7 pm
The Seabees on Iwo Jima
Learn about the US Naval Construction Battalions in WWII which built the infrastructure for the Allies in Europe and the Pacific. The Seabees were construction workers by trade but had to fight at times. Their motto was “We Build, We Fight,” and their biggest test came in the battle for Iwo Jima.
KET Monday, May 29 at 10/9 pm
The Tuskegee Airmen: Return to Ramitelli
Narrated by country music star Darius Rucker. We return to Ramitelli airfield in Italy to chronicle the legacy of WWII’s famed Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots who helped break stereotypes and helped win WWII with their incredible fighter escorts of American bombers.
KET2 Monday, May 22 at 10/9 pm
Watch Now
Kentucky WWII Veterans: In Their Own Words
Kentucky veterans of World War II recount their combat experiences.
In Their Own Words: Kentucky Veterans of the Korean War
The tragedies and triumphs of the Korean War are revealed through the stories of local veterans.
Kentucky Veterans of the Vietnam War: In Their Own Words
Kentucky veterans tell their personal stories of their time in Vietnam. Nick Clooney narrates.
From Honor to Medal: The Story of Garlin M. Conner
The film tells the story of Lt. Garlin Conner, whose exploits in WWII made him among the most decorated soldiers in American history, and the Kentucky community that refused to let his sacrifice be forgotten.
Honoring D-Day Veterans
2019 marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the single most pivotal day in WWII. The 2019 National Memorial Day Concert shared SGT Ray Lambert’s story of bravery and paid tribute to heroes who sacrificed and died in service to our nation and the world.
Kentucky at War
Interviews, archival film footage, and letters tell the story of how Kentucky experienced WWII.
Kentucky at War: Desert Storm
Kentucky veterans recount their experiences in the Gulf War conflict.
Kentucky Life: The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort pays tribute to each of the 1,103 Kentucky servicemen and women who died in the war. Veterans of the war share their memories in this clip from Kentucky Life.
Featured Passport Programs
The Passport member benefit allows you to watch your favorite programs anytime, on any screen. Learn more about Passport.
Charlotte Mansfield: A Woman Photographer Goes to War
Drawing from an extraordinary archive of military photographs and personal correspondence, and expert and family interviews, this film tells the story of Mansfield’s pioneering career as a Women’s Army Corps photographer during WWII.
The Great Escape: The True Story
On March 24, 1944, a mass escape of Allied soldiers from a German prisoner-of-war camp was set in motion. This three-part documentary looks at one of WWII’s most audacious acts of survival and defiance.
Surrender on the USS Missouri
This film recounts the official Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945, which ended World War II.
Clips
Christopher Jackson Performs “Last Full Measure of Devotion”
This performance was on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol at the 28th National Memorial Day Concert in 2017.
Cynthia Erivo Performs “Requiem for a Soldier”
This performance was on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol at the 29th National Memorial Day Concert in 2018.
Ursula Palmer, Gold Star Wife
In this clip from The National Memorial Day Concert 2017, the story of Ursula Palmer, whose journey to find fulfillment after the loss of her husband, SFC Collin J. Bowen, sheds light on the Gold Star experience.