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Air Dates: April 21-28, 2025

Eighty years ago, mothers with sons and husbands at war in Europe could celebrate the end of the war there, even as they worried about the possibility their loved ones might be heading to the invasion of Japan. Tim Gray has made his life’s work about telling the stories of those heroes, their sacrifices, and their legacy.  

Gray is a documentary filmmaker and founder and president of The World War II Foundation. He has won 5 Regional Emmy Awards in the documentary film writing and outstanding documentary film categories. He has also received four Indie Film Fest Awards in that international competition and two Impact Doc Awards. Gray has completed 38 documentaries to date. Tim Gray Media films consistently rank nationally in the top 5 of most requested programs by PBS and Public Television affiliates. Gray also hosts the “From the Front to the Films” podcast, which features well-known actors, authors, filmmakers, veterans, and others connected to World War II. He has also been a frequent guest on FOX News’ national program, “The Story with Martha MacCallum,” where he contributes to the network’s coverage of WWII events, issues, and stories. Gray sits on the Advisory Board of Patriots’ Hall of Dripping Springs, a foundation established by Emmy Award-winning actor Kyle Chandler and his wife Kathryn. Patriots’ Hall is a permanent retreat and resource base for veterans of all ages and military branches to connect and find support.

On this week’s episode of “Story in the Public Square,” Gray reflects on the state of Europe decades after the end of World War II. He said, “It defined borders, NATO came out of that, and there has been relative peace in Europe since then. It achieved its goal.” As the 80th anniversary of the end of fighting in Europe approaches, Gray says that for much of the younger generation, the sentiment is lost. “The reality is, this is not being taught in schools anymore,” he said. “There really is not a reference point for this generation for World War II, and that’s unfortunate because I think a lot of what resonates today in society and in the world is a direct consequence of what happened during those years.”

“Story in the Public Square” broadcasts each week on public television stations across the United States. In Rhode Island and southeastern New England, the show is broadcast on Rhode Island PBS on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and is rebroadcast Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Check your local public television listings for air times near you! An audio version of the program airs Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, Sundays at 2:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Mondays at 4:30 a.m. ET on SiriusXM’s popular P.O.T.U.S. (Politics of the United States), channel 124. “Story in the Public Square” is a project of the Pell Center at ������. The initiative aims to study, celebrate and tell stories that matter.