DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) - Brandon Ward and Alex Schmidt walked through the Veterans Freedom Center with a video camera and smartphone, snapping pictures and shooting footage.
Not so long ago, neither of them knew the facility existed, the Telegraph Herald (https://bit.ly/2ngre61 ) reported. Now, they are poised to help tell the story of the organization, which seeks to meet the needs of local veterans and provide them a space in which to gather.
The young filmmakers are part of a team of students from Dubuque’s Alternative Learning Center.
“It’s a really nice atmosphere for veterans,” said Ward, a senior. “You can tell that by looking around.”
The Alternative Learning Center is part of the Dubuque Community School District. It serves 11th- and 12th-grade students who are at risk of dropping out of school, offering them a different option than the traditional high school setting.
The students have worked for more than a month on a short film about the center. They aim to foster a greater appreciation for the organization’s work.
A premiere for students, family members and district staffers will be held later this month.
“I think veterans deserve our respect and appreciation, and I think (the students) get that,” said Tim Hitzler, a social studies teacher at the ALC. “But I think the men and women that work here, they put in a lot of time and they help a lot of people.”
The project stemmed from a sociology class in which students learned about veterans affairs and issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and how veterans acclimate in returning to society, Hitzler said.
The class settled on drawing attention to the largely unheralded center, he said.
His students spent time researching veterans issues, visiting the center, settling on a vision for the film and interviewing veterans. They also worked on speeches and fliers for the upcoming premiere.
“We just got our hands dirty and did it, and the kids did a great job,” Hitzler said.
The result is an about-10-minute film entitled “Vets Helping Vets.” Hitzler said his goal is to have the documentary distributed through various means, including public access television and YouTube.
Jim Wagner, co-founder and director of the center, said he thinks organization members will be able to use the film when they talk with area students.
“They’ll have an idea already of what we do and what it’s about,” he said. “And as you can see, we stay busy.”
The center is staffed by volunteers and funded by donations and fundraisers. The organization operates various programs, including providing vets transportation to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City.
“I think (the film) will be a tool for us,” Wagner said. “It’s just an additional tool we can use to get the word out about what the Veterans Freedom Center does.”
Schmidt and Ward shot footage and helped edit the documentary, and they said they learned a lot about the organization’s work. Ward said he appreciated the chance to work on the project.
“I was more than happy to do it because it’s going for a good cause,” he said.
Schmidt, also a senior, said he was surprised to find the resource in Dubuque. He said he hopes the documentary raises awareness and encourages veterans to visit.
“People who fight for our country deserve to have a positive life experience after serving our country,” he said.
In addition to learning about the center, students who worked on the project learned communication and teamwork skills, Hitzler said. They also learned about interviewing, working with video and helping the community, he said.
“It’s a real project,” Hitzler said. “They’re serving a real purpose.”
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Information from: Telegraph Herald, https://www.thonline.com
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