Larry;
Thank you for providing a powerful and penetrating history lesson for our
students at Miami Lakes Educational Center. Your film clip from,
"Lest They Forget" on the D-Day invasion of Normandy moved many
students to tears. Studying from a textbook is so one-dimensional
and "flat" that students really don't gain the understanding of
what took place. The visual provided by your film brings the human
quality and a much deeper meaning of what those citizen/soldier-heros did
for America and the world.
Bringing the two Iwo Jima veterans was something these students will
remember forever. Their story will remain with our students and is
being shared around school already.
Again, thank you for making the effort to help educate our students and
for the copy of your film.
Neil Eichelbaum
Miami Lakes Educational Center
Larry,
It was such a pleasure to meet you. I really admire what you
are doing to
preserve this part of our history. The students were very
impressed and
the presentation led to much discussion in the classroom.
Thank you for
honoring our Veterans in this special way. If you have a
chance I would
love to have copies of the pictures that you took the day you
visited us.
Thanks for all that you do,
Sincerely,
Toni Wiersma
Principal
Okeechobee Freshman Campus
Okeechobee, Florida
First
I wish to thank you for giving us the opportunity to be a part of your
celebration. As a teacher
I seek opportunities to expose my charges to the outside world.
I know that few of them have such opportunities and as we all
know, experience is the best teacher.
The “Lest They be Forgotten” Veteran’s Remembrance was
one of the finest such opportunities of which I have partaken.
Such
an impressive blend of entertainment, splendor, and morality are
seldom seen in today’s world. Sir,
I applaud your farsightedness in providing such an opportunity for the
enhancement of the cadets of the area.
We are deeply in your debt, and I wish to extend my heartfelt
gratitude and to assure you that you have made a difference in many
young lives.
I
must admit, the film was surprising, I knew I would enjoy it, but was
amazed at the reaction of my cadets. They
all set spellbound with rapt attention, something we don’t see
enough of in middle school. In
fact, my wife and a couple of the cadets sobbed through most of the
program. Again, a job
well done.
Mr.
Cappetto mentioned during his address that we could obtain a copy of
the film, through you. I
would be amiss if I did not attempt to obtain a copy to show the rest
of my cadets. Could you provide particulars?
And if you would be so kind as to see the Mr. Cappetto
receives a copy of this e-mail, so that he can recognize the impact
his film is having, I would be appreciative.
Mark Moore
Wichita, Kansas
Hi, Larry;
Yesterday we utilized your film, "Lest They Be Forgotten" (as
we are at the point of studying WWII) in class. There were more
than a few moist eyes. You are helping educate a new generation.
Thanks for having such an amazing impact on our students.
Neil Eichelbaum
Miami Lakes Educational Center
Dear
Larry,
Got Vol 1 & 2 the other day. Fantastic and deeply moving. I have
watched Vol 1 many times. I can't say enough good things about your
project. The history you are recording is priceless. Information related
to these attached units such as what beach they landed on, at what time,
what equipment they wore and used is not easily obtained by those who
are interested in preserving this history. You are doing a great
service.
Please stay in touch,
Leonard N. Patrick
Goleman High School
Miami FL
LETTERS
FROM STUDENTS
Dear
Sir,
I would like to compliment you on your
presentation this morning. Your documentary was superb. It
showed us the emotion and feelings of the veterans' memories of war.
Before today, I did not realize how those men
felt. I always thought it was not that bad, but now that I have seen
this, I will be more respectful to those who have served.
You are a wonderful person for taking time to get
the stories from these men. We all appreciate it.
Sincerely yours,
Korinne Raymor
Dear
Sir,
Thank you for making me realize "Freedom is
not free". I never realized how many people had died for our
freedom. It really touched me. And I never cry. You made
me think that stuff in movies are not all what they seem. You
actually did a more realistic movie. I have a friend who's in war
right now in Iraq, and it scares me that he is facing through all that
like people in the movie. I really want to thank you a lot.
Sincerely,
Ruby Estrada
Dear
Sir,
It was very moving seeing the presentation that
you showed us today. One of the things that got to me the most was
when the soldiers were running out of the boats onto the beach. It
was sad seeing people dying in the sand.
Thanks for showing all the kids at Okeechobee
Freshman Campus the images of war.
In appreciation,
Chris Cain
Dear
Sir,
War is not one of my favorite subjects. My
uncle was in one of the wars, I'm not sure which one, and he was very
scared. He doesn't really talk about it much because he doesn't like
the reminders of losing his best friend.
I liked seeing the video because it gave an
insight on how those men truly felt about going into war and what they
actually did. War is very tragic, and now my cousin is training in the
Army Reserves.
I greatly appreciate you taking your time to come
here and showing us your video and talking about it.
Thanks,
Patricia S.
Dear
Sir,
The presentation was very moving. Seeing
all those veterans tell a story that has made a mark in their lives say
what they say. I don't know how they can live with those nightmares.
You did something nice for those who remember
D-day, by letting other people see what the real life is, because freedom
isn't free.
Sincerely,
Derrick W.
Dear
Sir,
I really liked the video. I've seen more
videos like this but this is one of the ones that I liked. Sure,
you're probably not getting money out of doing this but you get support
from other people. What you are doing is great. You should
even make a book about this.
Sincerely,
Victor Gandarilla
Dear
Sir,
I think your video was really good, especially
the part where you showed parts of films where soldiers got shot, and
where they were in the ships. Another part of the film that I liked
was the part where the soldiers were telling their story and you pass a
film about the things they were saying. I think this film was very
interesting and I really hope that you keep up doing a great job.
Thank you,
Alan Najera
Dear
Sir,
I wanted to take the time to thank you for the
video that you made. I have seen a lot of movies on war, but I never
actually realized how hard it would be to watch more than one of your
close friends die right in front of you. A good friend of mine
recently was killed and I think that is why it touched me. I can't
imagine losing more han one friend at the same time - and having to watch
it.
Thank you again, for your time, and for letting
us watch that video.
Always,
Katie Wallace
Dear Sir,
One of the main things that touched me was when
the veterans started to cry while they were talklng about what it was
like. I wasn't able to see most of the movie because I checked in
late, but I did see that part and it really upset me in a way that made me
think of what it was like being over there. It made me realize that
I am able to have the things I have now because of them, and it made me
want to grow my knowledge on the war. I, also, liked the part
towards the very end when it showed the men when they were younger in
their uniforms. I liked seeing the pictures.
From Nikki Lawrence
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for bringing your movie to
us. I have a couple of relatives that were in different wars.
I thought I had an idea of what they went through but after seeing your
movie I realized I had no idea. Your movie has brought me closer to
my relatives that have fought for our country, and has made me give more
respect to the men that have died. Thanks again, for the movie.
Sincerely, Corey
Dear Sir,
Your presentation was great!
I enjoyed listening to the guys tell their story
about World War II. I wish that never would have happened to the
ones that were killed. You're right, freedom doesn't come free.
I don't know what it was like to be on a boat
waiting to get to shore knowing that there are three machine gunners in
the trees, and so many rifles in the bushes, just waiting for you to pop
out of that boat, but I'm sure it must have been a living hell. It's
great that people care about the veterans who served in the service.
What you're doing is great. I hope that you continue. Oh, by
the way, - great music on the DVD.
Unsigned