Screening of "The Lost Airmen of Buchenwald"
The programs are part of the museum’s newest exhibit, “Victory From Within: The American POW Experience.”
The little-known story of 168 airmen captured in WWII and held at a Nazi death camp will be told in two programs at the Old State Capitol at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 13-14.
A documentary, “The Lost Airmen of Buchenwald,” will be shown in two parts. On Nov. 13, the family of Basil Coates, who survived the death camp, will talk about their father. Coates’ daughter, Karen Velupillai, created a quilt in memory of her father and the other prisoners, and it will be on display.
On Nov. 14, the second half of the documentary will be shown followed by comments by LSU History professor Brendan Karch, who specializes in Western Civilization and Fascism in Europe.
Since most soldiers who were captured were taken to POW camps, no one believed the survivors had been imprisoned at Buchenwald.
The programs are part of the museum’s newest exhibit, “Victory From Within: The American POW Experience.” The traveling exhibit will be on display until Dec. 20.
Guests may attend one or both nights of the program.