With all the hype and propaganda about the hacking of Sony over a juvenile humor movie “The Interview”, a Patriotic movie opened on Christmas Day to little fanfare and media reporting.
Via Eau Claire Leader-Telegram,
Incredible.”
“Profound.”
“Amazing.”
Those high marks were voiced by local veterans after viewing the new box office hit, “Unbroken.”
Two and a half hours after entering the theater, the veterans and their friends, families and caretakers came out in awe of the story they had seen unfold on the big screen.
Some were emotional, some silent, but others were eager to talk about what they’d seen at the special viewing event.
Despite having served in World War II himself, Vane Hays of Eau Claire said he cannot imagine what Louis Zamperini — whose life is documented in the film — went through.
Hays was one among many gathered at Micon Cinemas in Chippewa Falls on Saturday’s snowy morning, and like many others in the room, he wore a baseball cap with a military insignia on it atop his head, identifying him as a Navy veteran.
The gathering of veterans was not due to a national holiday or special anniversary, like many others are. Instead, it was an opportunity for veterans to see the film free of charge.
Bob Billen of Chippewa Falls came up with the idea to give military personnel the opportunity to see it for free.[…]
In May 1943, a plane carrying U.S. airmen, including Zamperini, crashed into the Pacific Ocean.
Only three people survived the crash — Zamperini being one of them. After floating at sea in a raft for more than a month, the survivors — which had fallen to two men — were picked up by Japanese sailors.
For the next two years, the men were held as prisoners of war and endured vicious torture. Zamperini survived and was released in 1945 following the end of the war.