WBFO Veterans News Desk

He is best known to most Americans as the developer of classic television shows including "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son," "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times." Before that, during World War II, Norman Lear was part of a B-17 crew that ran missions over Germany. What many may not know is his Buffalo connection and how the war influenced his TV career.

Jewish Americans accounted for a higher percentage of the US military during World War II than the entire US population. On Sunday, May 27 at 9:30 p.m., WNED-TV will broadcast a documentary which celebrates the Jews who contributed to the war effort, specifically members of the US Army Air Corps.

Students at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore tackled a difficult mental health issue through a stage play performed this past weekend.  WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says students wrote, directed, composed music and choreographed the two act musical called 'Army of One' with all proceeds going to a veteran organization. 

The Polish-American newspaper Am-Pol Eagle will mark this year's 100th anniversary of Poland's restoration as a sovereign state with a special ceremony at St. Adalbert Basilica in Buffalo. Among those to be honored as part of the celebration are surviving Polish-born World War II veterans.

Among the challenges veterans face upon ending active duty and entering civilian life is being able to communicate one's thoughts and emotions to spouses, other loved ones and other peers. The Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center in East Aurora played host this week to a group of veterans and spouses who were participating in Project Odyssey, a retreat facilitated by the Wounded Warrior Project.

Two Buffalo-area colleges, one of them a two-year public institution and the other a four-year private school, are uniting in a partnership to provide a smooth path to a bachelor's degree for students with military connections.

By this fall, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hopes to begin construction on the new Western New York National Veterans Cemetery in the Town of Pembroke. Officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs encourage those who served in the military to do their homework, and take advantage of a benefit that many may not know is one to which they are entitled.

Construction of a new monument paying tribute to African-American veterans is expected to begin this spring, boosted by the recent awarding of a $600,000 state grant.

For many military personnel, readjusting to civilian life can be a battle. Transitioning from active service or returning from deployment can bring on feelings and emotions that are difficult to manage. For some, art can be a way to understand those feelings and find peace within oneself. In his series on the arts and social integration, WBFO’s Scott Sackett talks with artist and U.S. Army Colonel Jim Becker, one of the founders of the Artists/Veterans Art Collaborative.

A local World War II veteran is overwhelmed by Grand Island students who honored his military service. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says a letter writing project brought the two very different generations together. 

The Niagara County Clerk's Office has begun providing assistance to veterans by offering satellite office hours in Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda, once per month in each location. The idea is to create more convenient opportunities for veterans in need of help.

The former head of the Buffalo-area chapter of the American Red Cross has been named the new chief executive officer of the Veterans One-Stop Center of Western New York. Chuck Marra will assume his new role in January.

The USS Little Rock LCS-9 is now in service to the United States. After months of anticipation, the Navy's newest warship was formally commissioned Saturday at Buffalo's Canalside.

9,000 tickets have been distributed for the new USS Little Rock’s commissioning ceremony on Saturday. That will mean long lines, wait times, and tight security in cold temperatures. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to attend.

The future USS Little Rock LCS-9 has been a special guest of honor along Buffalo's waterfront since arriving Dec. 4. The highly-anticipated and historic commissioning ceremony will be held on Saturday morning. On Thursday, the crew of the future Little Rock put in a busy day, both on and off the ship.

A couple from East Aurora, both of whom served in the U.S Marines, were featured on a special program hosted by popular cooking show host Lidia Bastianich. Mark and Denise Beyers will be among those spotlighted on the PBS program "Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes," which pays tribute to veterans who, in their next phase of life, are working the land to produce food.

The "Date Which Will Live in Infamy" was remembered, as it always is on December 7, at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. This year's edition of the Pearl Harbor Remembrance ceremony featured honors for two veterans who served on submarines in World War II and remarks from one of the officers aboard the soon-to-be-commissioned new USS Little Rock LCS9.

The Caledonia bagpipers were on the Central Wharf Monday for the official reception to the harbor for LCS-9, with the name "Little Rock" just barely visible on the stern. The U.S. Navy's newest ship is finally docked at Canalside, readying for a first-of-its-type commissioning, next to its much larger predecessor.

The long-anticipated arrival of the new USS Little Rock finally came Monday morning, as the littoral combat ship arrived in the Buffalo River. The ship was greeted by hundreds of civilians and saluted by docents who stood aboard the ship's decommissioned elder counterpart.