Lakeland PBS - Boys of Bataan
October 29, 2024: The Brainerd Honor Guard presented the flag at a screening of the Boys of Bataan documentary in the Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. Taps was played. This one-hour documentary, narrated by local historian John Ericson, will air on Lakeland TV on Veterans Day, November 11th at 8 and 9 pm.
The second installment of Lakeland PBS’ local military story initiative premieres on
Veteran’s Day. However, community members are invited to Central Lakes College for
an early screening of the documentary on October 29th.
“The Boys of Bataan” is an hour-long documentary that tells the powerful story of
young men from Brainerd, MN, who served in the 194th Tank Battalion, Company A in
the Philippines during World War II. Narrated by John Erickson, Archivist for Brainerd
Public Schools, the documentary follows their journey from high school to the Battle of
Bataan, concluding with an annual memorial ceremony at the National Guard Armory
in Brainerd.
“The Boys of Bataan” Screening will be held at the Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes
College on Tuesday, October 29th, doors open at 5:30pm with the screening starting at
6:00pm. The event will be kicked off with a tribute from the Brainerd Lakes Area Honor
Guard.
This is the second of four local military documentaries from Lakeland PBS to be
released over the next year. Lakeland PBS is excited to be highlighting important
military history and veteran’s stories from their broadcast communities, bringing to
light the heroic efforts of our neighbors, and preserving the stories of sacrifices made
for future generations to learn from.
“This film is a great tribute to the brave soldiers of the 194th Battalion and the greatest
sacrifice one can give for their country,” says Lakeland’s Program Manager, Meghan
Jewett. “We gratefully help preserve the memory of their legacy and what it means to
their families and the community they called home through this film. We are excited to
gather and watch this powerful piece together and hope that it serves as a reminder of
the importance of community, service, and gratitude.”
“The Boys of Bataan” will premiere on Lakeland PBS on Monday, November 11th at
8:00pm and 9:00pm. Community members can also watch on demand using the free
PBS app or on their website, lptv.org.
About Lakeland PBS: Lakeland PBS’ mission is to educate, inform, and enrich
viewers with the programming we produce right here in northern Minnesota and the
nationally available programs we know our members enjoy. Lakeland PBS’ vision is to
be a valued and trusted source of news, entertainment, and storytelling that connects
and uplifts our diverse region. We strive to empower citizens while serving and
connecting the diverse communities across our broadcast region.