Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Patricia Harris recalls her time in the U.S. Army as a combination of horror, madness, and resilience. When she experienced sexual harassment while on active duty, the military had very few resources to help her. When Harris returned home, she found solace in an unexpected place: a red 1967 VW Beetle. Find out how the car came to symbolize freedom, peace, and gave her the motivation to support fellow veterans.
American Veteran: Keep It Close tells the stories of U.S. military veterans and the special objects they carried during deployment and beyond. These objects, ranging from a pebble to a vial of lip gloss, have provided everyday comfort and hope to the veterans — and offer civilians a window into the veteran experience. Although the stories are unique to the individual veterans and their military service, the concept of mementos and the emotions they can generate are universal.
Join our “Keep It Close” social media campaign by sharing a photo or describing an object that has significance to your experience as a veteran. Civilians: post an object, person, or place that makes you understand what veterans experience or have experienced. Add the hashtag #AmericanVeteranPBS to join the campaign.
Thank you to Analog Devices for supporting American Veteran: Keep It Close. You can learn more at analog.com/en/applications/markets/aerospace-and-defense-pavilion-home.html
// Subscribe to PBS Voices so you never miss an episode! bit.ly/PBSVoices
Watch the four-part broadcast “American Veteran” on pbs.org or the PBS video app, and listen to the podcast “American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories” wherever you get your podcasts.
pbs.org/wgbh/american-veteran
PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: to.pbs.org/DonateVoices
Keep up with PBS Digital Studios
Facebook: facebook.com/PBSDigitalStudios
Twitter: twitter.com/pbsds
Instagram: instagram.com/pbsds
#veterans #military #AmericanVeteranPBS
Patricia Harris recalls her time in the U.S. Army as a combination of horror, madness, and resilience. When she experienced sexual harassment while on active duty, the military had very few resources to help her. When Harris returned home, she found solace in an unexpected place: a red 1967 VW Beetle. Find out how the car came to symbolize freedom, peace, and gave her the motivation to support fellow veterans.
American Veteran: Keep It Close tells the stories of U.S. military veterans and the special objects they carried during deployment and beyond. These objects, ranging from a pebble to a vial of lip gloss, have provided everyday comfort and hope to the veterans — and offer civilians a window into the veteran experience. Although the stories are unique to the individual veterans and their military service, the concept of mementos and the emotions they can generate are universal.
Join our “Keep It Close” social media campaign by sharing a photo or describing an object that has significance to your experience as a veteran. Civilians: post an object, person, or place that makes you understand what veterans experience or have experienced. Add the hashtag #AmericanVeteranPBS to join the campaign.
Thank you to Analog Devices for supporting American Veteran: Keep It Close. You can learn more at analog.com/en/applications/markets/aerospace-and-defense-pavilion-home.html
// Subscribe to PBS Voices so you never miss an episode! bit.ly/PBSVoices
Watch the four-part broadcast “American Veteran” on pbs.org or the PBS video app, and listen to the podcast “American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories” wherever you get your podcasts.
pbs.org/wgbh/american-veteran
PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: to.pbs.org/DonateVoices
Keep up with PBS Digital Studios
Facebook: facebook.com/PBSDigitalStudios
Twitter: twitter.com/pbsds
Instagram: instagram.com/pbsds
#veterans #military #AmericanVeteranPBS
