Past Programming

Dedication of the Korean War National Museum

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From Springfield: Korean War veterans and members of the South Korean government gather to dedicate the Korean War National Museum and to reflect on the legacy of South Korean freedom.

For more information on the Korean War National Museum, click here.

Recorded June 26, 2009.  Aired the week of July 27, 2009.  15 minutes.

Illinois House of Representatives:

Annual Memorial Service for Fallen Soldiers

From the House Chamber at the State Capitol: Illinois House members hold their annual tribute to the young men and women from Illinois who lost their lives in the past year as members of the military.

Recorded May 26, 2009.  Aired the week of June 8, 2009.  25 minutes.

CAPITOL INSIGHTS:

EMT Licensure for Military Medics

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Sen. Pam Althoff tells us about her bill that will allow those who served as medics in the military to apply their experiences to becoming Emergency Medical Technicians.  We also hear from Carol Spizzirri of the Save a Life Foundation.

Recorded May 27, 2009.  Aired the week of June 1, 2009.  10 minutes.

Recollections of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients:

Tibor Rubin, Korean War Veteran

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From the Union League Club of Chicago: Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Tibor Rubin recounts his experiences in combat and how he handled the emotional aftermath.  Mr. Rubin is a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who immigrated to the United State in 1948 and served with the U.S. Army in the Korean War from 1950 - 1953.

For more information on the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, click here.

Recorded July 11, 2008.  Aired the week of July 21, 2008.  10 minutes.

Recollections of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients:

Sammy Davis, Vietnam War Veteran

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From the Union League Club of Chicago: Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Davis recounts his experiences in combat and how he handled the emotional aftermath.  Mr. Davis served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and currently resides in Flat Rock, Illinois.

For more information on the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, click here.

Recorded July 11, 2008.  Aired the week of July 21, 2008.  10 minutes.

Recollections of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients:

Bruce Crandall, Vietnam War Veteran

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From the Union League Club of Chicago: Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall recounts his experiences in combat and how he handled the emotional aftermath.  Mr. Crandall also served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and is a resident of Washington state.

For more information on the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, click here.

Recorded July 11, 2008.  Aired the week of July 21, 2008.  10 minutes.

From Iraq: Rep. Jim Watson (R) on War Conditions and Building a Democracy

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From Camp Ramadi in Iraq: State Representative Jim Watson, who is currently serving with the U.S. Marines in Iraq, tells us what he has experienced there.  He also discusses what is being accomplished in the effort to build a functioning democracy in the Anbar Province of Iraq.

Recorded July 1, 2008.  Aired the week of July 14, 2008.  15 minutes.

Memorial Service for Illinois' Fallen Military Members

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From the House Chamber in the State Capitol: in a moving memorial service, House members read the names of Illinois soldiers and sailors who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recorded May 29, 2008.  Aired the week of June 16, 2008.  25 minutes.

Benedictine University's Free Tuition for Veterans

From Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois: University President William Carroll announces Benedictine will expand its policy of free tuition to first responders and now offer free tuition to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan as well.

For more information, click here.

Recorded May 9, 2008.  Aired the week of June 16, 2008.  15 minutes.

Lawmaker Called to Active Duty in Iraq

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Rep. Jim Watson discusses his recent call to active duty in Iraq and how he will continue to serve as a member of the legislature during the nine months he will be serving overseas.

Recorded January 17, 2008.  Aired the week of January 28, 2008.  10 minutes.

Recollections of the "Battle of the Bulge"

From Springfield: our one-on-one interview with Harry Fernandes, a World War II veteran and survivor of the Battle of the Bulge.  Mr. Fernandes shares what he experienced as a foot soldier fighting the Germans in the bitter winter cold of 1944.

Recorded November 28, 2007.  Aired the week of December 3, 2007.  30 minutes.

Addressing Growing Needs in Veterans Healthcare

This program is underwritten in-part by the Center for State Policy & Leadership at the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Institute of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.

Recorded November 16, 2007.  Aired the week of November 26, 2007.  50 minutes.

Legal Support for Members of the Military

From the John Marshall Law School in Chicago: Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Fitzgerald and Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth join with others to discuss a new initiative designed to provide legal support for military veterans.

Recorded September 5, 2007.  Aired the week of September 17, 2007.  25 minutes.

Illinois Law:

Military Tribunals

From the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign: a number of legal questions have arisen from the war against terrorism, including whether those captured on the battlefield should be tried in American courts or by military tribunals.  This Illinois Law program, produced by the University of Illinois College of Law and WCIA-TV, Champaign, examines the military tribunal process.

Recorded Spring 2007.  Aired the week of July 16, 2007.  30 minutes.

Tammy Duckworth:

Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

From Springfield: our one-on-one interview with the Director of the Illinois Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth.  Director Duckworth, who was wounded while serving as a helicopter pilot in Iraq, discusses the services available to veterans from all wars and their family members.  Director Duckworth, the daughter of a WWII Veteran, currently serves as a Major in the Illinois National Guard and is married to an active duty serviceman.

Recorded May 31, 2007.  Aired the week of June 11, 2007.  35 minutes.

Experiences as a WWII P.O.W. in Germany

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From Springfield: a special story of service and sacrifice.  Chicagoan Dick Lockhart recounts his experiences in World War II as a member of the Army's 106th Infantry Division.  In December 1944, during the German counter-offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge, Dick Lockhart was taken prisoner and spent four months as a Prisoner of War, surviving in-part on "grass soup."

Recorded August 31, 2006.  Aired the week of September 18, 2006.  35 minutes.

A Conversation with Dick Lockhart: Illinois Statesman

From Springfield: Illinois Channel Contributor Bernard Sieracki interviews lobbyist Dick Lockhart about his experiences as a Prisoner-of-War in World War II, his participation in the 1970 Constitutional Convention which frames our current government, and the changes in state government he has witnessed in his nearly six decades as a lobbyist.

Recorded April 5, 2006.  Aired the week of April 17, 2006.  30 minutes.

Regulating Protests at Military Funerals

From Springfield: legislators push for passage of a bill that would keep demonstrators from disrupting funerals of service personnel.  The bill would set limitations on how close any demonstration can be to the service.

Recorded March 27, 2006.  Aired the week of April 3, 2006.  18 minutes.

The Future of the U.S. Military

From Knox College in Galesburg: Brigadier General David Fridovich, a 1974 Knox College graduate, delivers a speech on the future of the U.S. military.

Recorded October 24, 2005.  Aired the week of January 30, 2006.  20 minutes.

Illinois National Guard Aids Hurricane Victims

From Camp Lincoln in Springfield: Lt. Colonel Tim Franklin of the Illinois National Guard talks about the mission and the units begin sent to aid hurricane victims in the Gulf.

Recorded September 7, 2005.  Aired the week of September 11, 2005.  10 minutes.

Illinois National Guard Joint Training Exercise

From Fort McCoy, Wisconsin: members of the Illinois National Guard train with military forces from other allied countries and National Guard units from other states.  This exercise is part of the force integration needed as National Guard units from around the country play an increasingly larger role in our national defense.  Included in the exercise are Guard members who are veterans of the Iraqi War, passing on combat lessons to Guard members who have yet to serve in Iraq.

Recorded July 18, 2005.  Aired the Week of July 31, 2005.  30 minutes.

Town Hall Meeting on Veterans' Benefits

From Chicago: a town hall meeting for Illinois military veterans.  This meeting features U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson and Illinois Senators Dick Durbin (D) and Barack Obama (D).  This meeting was organized to discuss the concerns of care provided by the VA.  It also addresses the issue of why Illinois veterans receive less in disability payments than veterans in other states who suffer the same disabilities.

Recorded May 20, 2005.  Aired the week of June 5, 2005.  1 hour.

Health Care Coverage for Veterans

From the State Capitol: State Representative Mike Boland discusses a proposal to help provide Veterans with health care coverage that would be paid for through a new lottery game.

Recorded May 26, 2005.  Aired the week of May 29, 2005.  10 minutes.

Saving Illinois Military Bases and Jobs

From Illinois and Washington, DC: a special report on the Base Realignment and Closing Commission.  Better known as BRAC, this is the process by which Congress closes "unneeded" military bases.  At stake for Illinois are four military bases, tens of thousands of jobs, and billions of dollars in Illinois' economy.  We talk with Illinois Congressional leaders and find out what they are doing together to preserve Scott Air Force Base, Springfield's 183rd Fighter Wing, Peoria's 182nd Airlift Wing, and the Rock Island Arsenal.

Aired the week of January 16, 2005.  Re-aired the week of May 8, 2005.  75 minutes.

This program is underwritten in part by:

The Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program

The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois

Ameren

Illinois National Guard's Military History

This program is archived.  Click on the photo to view via video-stream.

From Springfield: Did you know Illinoisan's captured General Santa Anna's wooden leg during the 1840's War with Mexico?  It is just one artifact on display at the Illinois Military Museum.  Nicknamed "The Castle," the museum is located at the National Guard's Camp Lincoln in Springfield.  Tour with us as Museum Director Mark Whitlock showcases the museum's exhibits and how they capture the history of the Illinois National Guard, from the Blackhawk War to the capture of Baghdad.

For More Information, Visit: http://www.il.ngb.army.mil

Recorded March 2, 2005.  Aired the week of April 24, 2005.  45 minutes.

This program is brought to you in cooperation with the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity - Bureau of Tourism.

Treating U.S. Soldiers' Combat Stress

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Senator Dick Durbin announces his intention to seek funding for veterans suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in combat.  Senator Durbin also takes reporters questions on a series of pending issues and comments on the Oil for Food scandal at the United Nations.

Recorded April 4, 2005.  Aired the week of April 10, 2005.  35 minutes.

Veterans Seek Obama's Help with Veterans Affairs Bureaucracy

From Springfield: U.S. Senator Barack Obama meets with Illinois veterans to learn of their experiences in dealings with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Senator Obama is a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

Recorded January 22, 2005.  Aired the week of January 30, 2005.  60 minutes.

Prisoners of War and Media Coverage

From the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston: a discussion by two men who at one time were Prisoners of War.  One was a POW in Vietnam, and the other, a POW during the current war in Iraq.  They discuss changes since Vietnam in the media's coverage of wars and the soldiers who fight them.

Recorded November 8, 2004.  Aired the week of January 23, 2005.  60 minutes.

Reflecting on World War II Veterans

From Washington, DC: The recent opening of the World War II Veteran's Memorial in Washington, DC has brought about reflection of the people and time the memorial represents.  Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism brings us stories of the war from people who lived and served during that time.  We see how the different aspects of life from family time to work were effected and influenced by the war.

Recorded June 2004.  Aired the week of July 11, 2004.  30 minutes.

Potential Closure of Illinois Bases

From Springfield: State and local government leaders are joined by business leaders to discuss the impact of the federal government closing military bases in Illinois.  The BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) process which is designed to close inefficient and duplicative military bases will meet again in the spring of 2005.  Four of Illinois' military bases could be included on the BRAC closure list: Scott AFB, Springfield's 183rd Fighter Wing, Peoria's 182nd Airlift Wing, and the Rock Island Arsenal.  The Great Lakes Naval base is considered safe.  In this press conference, strategies for keeping the bases open are discussed, including the hiring of Charlie Smith of PMA group (at the podium) who led the last BRAC process in 1995.

Recorded May 25, 2004.  Aired the week of June 6, 2004.  30 minutes.

America's Changing Military Policy

From Southern Illinois University in Carbondale: Former Chief of the US Central Command, General Anthony Zinni, discusses the changing mission of the US military from one built to oppose a nuclear superpower, to one required to be engaged in a host of international peace keeping missions.

Recorded October 21, 2003.  Aired the week of December 7, 2003.  1 hour.

Veterans Benefits & Services

From the State Military Museum in Springfield: Republican senators are holding hearings on the services state and federal agencies are providing veterans, and whether these should be improved.

Recorded November 7, 2003.  Aired the week of November 16, 2003.  40 minutes.

Commissioning of the USS Ronald Reagan

From Norfolk, Virginia: Our cameras follow an Illinois delegation of citizens as they tour the USS Ronald Reagan, the newest nuclear aircraft carrier to join the US Fleet. Members of the Illinois delegation include Jim Burke, the Mayor of Dixon, which was Ronald Reagan's hometown, and State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, whose office organized the delegation.  Following the tour, we show a portion of the commissioning ceremonies held at the US Naval Yard in Norfolk, VA.

Recorded July 11 & 12, 2003.  Aired the week of July 27, 2003.  35 minutes.

Extending Death Benefits to Illinois Military Service Personnel

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Major General David Harris discusses legislation proposed by House Speaker Madigan to extend death benefits the state pays to police officers and to Illinois military members killed in combat areas.

Recorded May 7, 2003 at the State Capitol.  Aired the week of May 11, 2003.  5 minutes.

Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn and Legislators Propose Benefits for Guard and Reservists

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn and a bipartisan group of lawmakers propose a legislative package designed to add a series of new benefits for those serving on active duty.  Some benefits include automatic renewal of  licenses and lend $300,000 to the newly created "Illinois Military Family Relief Fund."

Recorded April 16, 2003.  Aired the week of April 20, 2003.  30 minutes.

Treasurer Topinka and General Harris of the Illinois National Guard on USO Funds

From the State Capitol in Springfield: State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and General David Harris of the Illinois National Guard hold a joint press conference to discuss donations to the Illinois USO (United Service Organization), that aids serving military members and their families.

Recorded March 26, 2003.  Aired the week of April 20, 2003.  20 minutes.

State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka: Low Interest Loans for Reservists

From Springfield: State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka discusses her office's low-interest loans available to active duty reservists.

For more information on this program click on this link: http://www.state.il.us/treas/Programs/operationprotect.htm

Recorded March 12, 2003.  Aired the week of March 24, 2003.  5 minutes.

Congressman John Shimkus on US Military Policy and the Role of the UN

From Washington, DC: Congressman John Shimkus (R-19th Dist), one of five U.S. House members to serve as a military officer, discusses U.S. military policy, preemptive strikes, the role of the UN, and whether to seek court-martials  in cases of friendly fire.

Recorded March 20, 2003.  Aired the week of March 24, 2003.  15 minutes.

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