AUBURN — The Auburn Public Library has received a World War I and America grant to host programs throughout May designed to bring together members of the veteran community, their families and the general public to explore how war has impacted lives.
Authors, historians, veteran advocates and veterans will lead discussions and share their experiences with audience members.
The grant is funded by the Library of America and National Endowment for the Humanities to commemorate 100th anniversary of the nation’s entry into the war in 1917.
Programs will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursdays in the Community Room on the library’s lower level at 49 Spring St.
“Fort Bliss”: May 11. Rob Reilly, director of adventure programming for Camp Kieve Veterans Camp, will lead discussions at the showing of the 2014 film “Fort Bliss.” As a thank-you to veterans and their families, Camp Kieve offers family, Vietnam and women-only veterans’ camps for those who have experienced the stress of deployment during past and current conflicts. “Fort Bliss” tells the story of a decorated U.S. Army medic and single mother who struggles to rebuild her relationship with her young son after returning home from an extended tour in Afghanistan.
Richard Rubin: May 11. Richard Rubin, author of “The Last of the Doughboys” and the soon-to-be-released “Back Over There,” will share from his interviews conducted with World War I veterans as the audience looks at how combat changes lives. Veterans and their families are encouraged to share their stories of how war has impacted their lives.
Elizabeth Bischof: May 25. Elizabeth Bischof, professor at the University of Southern Maine and project manager for Maine’s World War I Memorials digital humanities project, will talk about her work in recording and preserving images of Maine’s World War I Memorials. The digital humanities project will result in an interactive website that documents and maps Maine’s World War I memorials.
The events are free and open to the public.
FMI: 207-333-6640, auburnpubliclibrary.org.
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