I saw it last year on HBO! As I watched, it was almost like being right there! I think I started a thread about the movie way back then....glad it was brought up again!! I cried all the way thru and would love to see it again! Great acting by the lead actor...
HBO now has the movie on its schedule and is also currently on demand. I think it is scheduled to be available until the end of Oct?
The movie is a wonderful movie. I had the honor of meeting and talking with Lt. Col (ret.) Michael Strobl,the real life individual that Kevin Bacon plays. According to him there are a few parts of the movie that are not technically accurate, but he does say the majority of the movie is an accurate depiction of the event.
I won't say which parts he told me did not actually happen that way since many may not have seen the movie yet. But I think one can certainly say it doesn't change the context of the movie and they are not that signficant in the overall story.
There is also a documentary about the mortuary services at Dover Air Force Base, the location to which the majority of bodies of soldiers killed abroad return. I can't remember who did the documentary, but it is very touching documentary of the protocol and routine of preparing the body of servicemen at Dover.
* Freedom has a taste the protected will never know *
Loved the movie.My father used to organize every March a veterans memorial in our hometown near Venice ,where I am now visiting my mom.Everytime a veteran in our county died,he organized the military funeral and he even read a poem during the service.When it was his turn about 3 years ago,I flew to Italy and cried through the whole military service.
After the last war Italy had 70 years ago,WW2,there are no more veterans.Now we are being invaded in a different way, by boats from Africa.
HBO now has the movie on its schedule and is also currently on demand. I think it is scheduled to be available until the end of Oct?
The movie is a wonderful movie. I had the honor of meeting and talking with Lt. Col (ret.) Michael Strobl,the real life individual that Kevin Bacon plays. According to him there are a few parts of the movie that are not technically accurate, but he does say the majority of the movie is an accurate depiction of the event.
I won't say which parts he told me did not actually happen that way since many may not have seen the movie yet. But I think one can certainly say it doesn't change the context of the movie and they are not that signficant in the overall story.
There is also a documentary about the mortuary services at Dover Air Force Base, the location to which the majority of bodies of soldiers killed abroad return. I can't remember who did the documentary, but it is very touching documentary of the protocol and routine of preparing the body of servicemen at Dover.
@pitdakota, my Comcast says it's available until 1/1/20.
I haven't seen the movie but I'd like to know which parts the Lt. Col. said don't happen that way. Maybe you could put it in a spoiler box?
I've been wondering, and haven't found an answer: With casualties such as Sgt. La David Johnson, whose families cannot view the body, whose bodies are obviously in bad shape -- do you know if the mortuary team really puts the uniform and medals on top of the shroud?
HBO now has the movie on its schedule and is also currently on demand. I think it is scheduled to be available until the end of Oct?
The movie is a wonderful movie. I had the honor of meeting and talking with Lt. Col (ret.) Michael Strobl,the real life individual that Kevin Bacon plays. According to him there are a few parts of the movie that are not technically accurate, but he does say the majority of the movie is an accurate depiction of the event.
I won't say which parts he told me did not actually happen that way since many may not have seen the movie yet. But I think one can certainly say it doesn't change the context of the movie and they are not that signficant in the overall story.
There is also a documentary about the mortuary services at Dover Air Force Base, the location to which the majority of bodies of soldiers killed abroad return. I can't remember who did the documentary, but it is very touching documentary of the protocol and routine of preparing the body of servicemen at Dover.
@pitdakota, my Comcast says it's available until 1/1/20.
I haven't seen the movie but I'd like to know which parts the Lt. Col. said don't happen that way. Maybe you could put it in a spoiler box?
I've been wondering, and haven't found an answer: With casualties such as Sgt. La David Johnson, whose families cannot view the body, whose bodies are obviously in bad shape -- do you know if the mortuary team really puts the uniform and medals on top of the shroud?
Hi @LoriLori, yes my understanding is...now this is kind of gory....but if the trunk of the body remains, they do put a uniform on the remains. They do their very best to put everything they have back together if that makes sense.
One of the signficant parts that is not accurate is when he is escorting Chance back and they have to stay overnight at the airport. They would not let him stay overnight at the airport. The airport manager agreed to stay with the body, but they wouldn't let Lt. Col. Strobl stay. He had to spend the night in a hotel and arrived back at the airport early am, I forget what time. It was policy at the airport and they would not budge to let him stay.
ETA: I am glad they are running the movie for that long. It really is a very good, touching movie. Well worth seeing. Kevin Bacon is excellent in the movie and he has told a veterans group (Vietnam Veterans) it was a role that really intimidated him because he really wanted to bring forward the dignity and honor associated with a military escort.
These escorts are provided only for service members killed in action. Outside of Arlington, retired military individuals are eligible for a military funeral. There are a number of honor guards throughout the country that will volunteer to provide an honor guard at the funeral if requested.
My father was buried with full military honors in a veterans cemetery. It is very comforting. The military group came from an Air Force base 3 hours away. That is different than this movie though....sorry, kind of got carried away. lol
* Freedom has a taste the protected will never know *
@pitdakota, that question has been eating at me so thanks so much for your response and for the info. I will definitely watch the movie.
I knew because I live in South Florida, where he's from, that it's haunting Sgt. Johnson's widow that she could not see her husband's remains. There's been extensive coverage on our local news of his journey home and viewing and funeral. She and Sgt. Johnson knew one another since they were six years old. He has a remarkable story -- he was a role model even before he enlisted -- and it's a shame that did not get national attention.
It's humbling to me that these young people sacrifice their lives for all of us. His story and his death have made me aware of how little I know about the military. As I said above, I watch Section 60 annually but it's from the perspective of the loved ones only.
ETA: Pitdakota, thanks also for generously sharing about your father. I've been to funerals with military honors, but only in regular cemeteries.
@Annabellethecat66, thank you for your service to this board in posting about "Taking Chance," I had never heard of it.
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