Piece Comment

Review of In Honor of Veterans


The people being profiled here truly deserve their moment on the air on this or any Veteran’s Day. As one who came of age in the 1960’s and continues to hold a bias against war, I am aware of how easy it is to not truly feel the sacrifice of the individuals who go to war for their country, whatever that country’s reason. It is surely the fact of having spent the last decade of my life on soil where this is regarded very differently that has matured my perspective. In this program, we hear lesser-known voices from the West. The sound collected at the Normandy landing by a brave army journalist is pretty dramatic – and the story of Nebraskan Dorcus Cavett (Dick’s stepmother!) - the first woman marine - would simply make a wonderful film! I do wish the narrator had cut back more and let the sound speak for itself. The drawling pace of the narration is probably a hallmark of this series from the Western Folklife Center – and I did find this narration well written. A quiet program – for a contemplative subject.