IMAX and Veterans Advantage Host Veterans Day Screening of HBO's "Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam"

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterans, military members and their guests will be treated by IMAX, HBO and Veterans Advantage to a special screening of "Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam" on Veterans Day, as part of the Veterans Week NYC celebration.

The Emmy Award-winning film, first released by HBO in 1987, will be shown to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Letters from soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen are used in "Dear America" to tell a comprehensive and highly personalized story of the decade-long U.S. military presence in Vietnam. Hollywood stars – including Robert DeNiro, Robert Downey Jr., Michael J. Fox, Harvey Keitel, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen and Robin Williams – lent their voices to the dynamic reading of moving words written by service members.

These letters were first collected by the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission for a book that was published with the same title. Veterans Advantage CEO and Vietnam veteran Scott Higgins – who served as the co-chairman of the commission with Donald Trump ­– and Veterans Advantage Board of Advisors member Gerry Byrne worked with IMAX and HBO to arrange the upcoming screening in New York. 

"It's a heartbreaking, firsthand account of what many of us experienced in Vietnam and sometimes I find it hard to watch," said Higgins about the film. "But it's such a powerful reminder of the sacrifices all our service members make when they are sent to war that I couldn't think of a more appropriate film to screen in commemoration of Veterans Day and the anniversary of the Vietnam War."

Higgins went on to thank both IMAX and HBO for their help in planning the private "Dear America" screening, which was filling up quickly after complimentary tickets were made available to Veterans Advantage members and guests.

"We are pleased to be able to host this Veterans Day screening and work with Veterans Advantage and HBO to honor those who have so faithfully served our country," IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond said.

The screening will take place at the AMC Loews 34th Street IMAX Theatre at 312 W 34th Street in New York City at 7 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2015. Active duty military, National Guard, reservists, veterans and their guests can register for tickets at VeteransAdvantage.com/DearAmerica.

About "Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam":
"Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam" is an HBO documentary film about the Vietnam War told through actual letters written by service members who deployed to Southeast Asia. Each letter is read by one of 40 Hollywood actors and actresses who took part in bringing these stories to life alongside footage from amateur 8 mm film, NBC-TV and the Department of Defense and music from the period. First released in 1987, the film won two Primetime Emmy Awards, the Special Jury Prize for Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival and numerous other awards. "Dear America" was recently screened in New York City by IMAX to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

About Veterans Advantage: 
Veterans Advantage advocates for greater respect, recognition and rewards for veterans and their families by creating and issuing new service-related benefits with a coalition of partner companies. Founded in 2000 by prominent Vietnam War veterans, Veterans Advantage partners with national retailers, travel industry leaders and insurance providers to deliver exclusive benefits, complimentary insurance coverage and access to special services for enrolled members. Member eligibility for Veterans Advantage offers is verified using the VetRewards Card at point of sale locations nationwide and with the Veterans Advantage Member ID when shopping online and by toll-free phone. More at VeteransAdvantage.com.

Media Contact:
Roy Asfar
Veterans Advantage
[email protected]
1-203-422-2526
veteransadvantage.com

SOURCE Veterans Advantage

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