American Legion Votes 'Saving Pvt. Ryan' Best War Film

American Legion Votes 'Saving Pvt. Ryan' Best War Film

WASHINGTON, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Legionnaires from across the nation voted "Saving Private Ryan" as the "Best War Movie Ever," in a poll sponsored by The American Legion Magazine.

"No one knows the cost of war better than those who have experienced it," said John Raughter, editor of The American Legion Magazine. "That firsthand experience by America's wartime veterans have made them far better experts on what makes a good war movie than most film critics. There were no pre-selected nominees on the ballots. Participants were allowed to vote for any war movie of their choice. We received hundreds of votes and 11.3 percent chose 'Saving Private Ryan' as their favorite war film."

The American Legion announced the results at the GI Film Festival in Washington on Memorial Day weekend. Dale Dye, a military advisor and an actor in the 1998 Steven Spielberg film, accepted the award.

"The movie depicts the realism of war by showing the bravery, fear, cowardice and horror of it all," said Mark C. Hemmrich, a Legionnaire from Stevens Point, Wis., who voted for the film. "It exemplifies our American ingenuity, honor and our sense of liberty, justice, religion and family."

The 1962 D-Day classic "The Longest Day," and the 1955 Audie Murphy film "To Hell and Back" both tied for second place, receiving 20 votes each. "Band of Brothers," a 2001 cable miniseries was next with 14 votes. A list of the top ten war movies will be published in an upcoming issue of The American Legion Magazine.

Founded in 1919, the 2.7 million-member American Legion is the nation's preeminent service organization for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, including active duty, National Guard and Reserves, and their families. A powerful voice for veterans in Washington, The American Legion, http://www.legion.org/, drafted the original GI Bill and was instrumental in establishing the agency that today is the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

Media Contacts: John Raughter, (317) 630-1350; Cell, (317) 441-8847 or Joe March, (317) 630-1253; Cell (317) 748-1926.

Source: American Legion National Headquarters

CONTACT: John Raughter, +1-317-630-1350; Cell: +1-317-441-8847, or Joe
March, +1-317-630-1253; Cell: +1-317-748-1926, both of the American Legion
National Headquarters

Web site: http://www.legion.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment