“Stories of Service: A Public MediaConversation on Veterans’ Issues”

Recently, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services attended Stories of Service: A Public Media Conversation on Veterans’ Issues in Washington, D.C.

The event, hosted by PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, brought together veterans, filmmakers, and congressional leaders to explore how public media is elevating the voices of those who have served.

The program highlighted three powerful initiatives: an excerpt from Make Peace or Die: Honor the  Fallen, StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative, and South Carolina’s ETV and Public Radio’s After Action—a series that sparks deep conversations on service, memory and healing.

Stacy Pearsall—a combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and champion of post-service storytelling—was recognized by Dixon Center for her work creating After Action.

Her leadership in developing the series gives voice to the veteran experience and demonstrates how authentic storytelling can help bridge the divide between military and civilian life.

This event demonstrated Dixon Center’s role as a resource hub of influence, ideas, and actions building capacity:

• Providing strategic support to people, institutions, organizations, and communities, across the nation, who are serving veterans and their families.
• Advocating for the importance of local storytelling and community-based veteran services.
• Fostering, strengthening, and expanding community-based connections to veterans.
• Elevating those that are serving as a recognized and visible network and voice for veterans and their families.

The stories shared throughout the evening reinforced Dixon Center’s core belief: when we amplify the voices of veterans through trusted platforms, we drive understanding, solutions, and impact at scale.