Former Norwich president, J. Russell Todd and his wife, Carol, listen to the Colby Military Writers Symposium at Norwich. Photo by Mary Comiskey, The Northfield News The Fifteenth annual William E. Colby Military Writers’ Symposium was held on the Norwich University campus last week.

The title as “America at the Crossroads: The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Participating this year were SSG David Bellavia author of House to House, LTC (RET) Conrad Crane, lead author of The New US Army-Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, LTC (RET) Carlo D’Este, the author of many books, mainly about the Second World War, James Hornfischer author of The Last Stand of the Tin Can Soldiers, Col. Richard Iron, British Army, contributing author of Counterinsurgency in Modern Warfare, Col. (RET) Peter Mansoor, author of Baghdad at Sunrise: A Brigade Commander’s War in Iraq, and Col. (RET) Jerry Morelock author of numerous books.

The 2010 Colby Award winner is Col. (RET) Jack Jacobs for his memoir If Not Now, When? This award was established in 1999. The Colby Award recognizes a first work of fiction or non-fiction that contributes to the understanding of military matters.

The final seminar was presented by Bill Estivellle and Norwich Communication students who are creating a documentary film, The War at Home, that illustrates the journey of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as they reintegrate into the world they left behind. Last year the group presented, “Vermont Fallen”, where the students spoke of their experiences and showed some of their filmed interviews. Friday’s screening was an update in the process of making a final project.

The students made two to three hundred hours of film. They collected 50 hours of interviews. They have artistically woven interviews with images of the veterans as they tell their stories. More than 15,000 still photographs were reviewed. Their goal is to invite the general population to see through the eyes of the returning soldiers. Some soldiers explained why they joined the military. They shared the amazing intimacy and friendships that developed within their units as they served our country. Others spoke of their losses and their journeys as they reintegrated into society. Others spoke of the mental illness, alcoholism and drug abuse that some soldiers experienced. The moving stories of experiences and friendships evoked emotional reactions on screens and in the audience.

This powerful film is still a work in progress. It is hoped that the final product will be used to help returning veterans to understand that the reintegration process is difficult and a normal process. Citizens and other members of the community need to understand why their sacrifices are not for nothing. These young men and women deserve and expect respect for their service to our country. There is a duty to the nation and a pride in service that deserves recognition. Their sacrifices must be acknowledged. These young men and women deserve and expect respect for their service to our country.