“Honor in the Valleyof Tears,” the documentary film created by Eric Dow and Boyle County native John Ponsoll, now is available in DVD format to the general public through www.amazon.com. The cost is $22.49.
The small, independent film was self-financed. It’s world premiere was May 2010 at the G.I. Film Festival. It showed at four other festivals throughout 2010, including the Louisville International Film Festival, at which it earned two audience awards.
“Everyone that’s seen it has (liked it),” said Dow. “It’s been very well-received. We haven’t run into any people who too much criticism of it. ... And it’s really helped a lot of families and veterans heal.
“On amazon.com (recently) there were 24 personal reviews; 23 are 5 stars. ... People are really digging it.”
The figure at the center of the film, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient 1st Sgt. David H. McNerney, died in October 2010.
“I think, in hindsight, we were thrilled we were able to catch him when we did, not knowing he would pass away in a couple of years,” Dow said. “He was healthy when we first met him. He was doing push-ups every morning.”
Dow said the reaction to the film is amazing.
“Now that he’s gone, it will be even more impactful to people,” he noted. “This guy sort of flew under the radar for 40 years. He was quiet and kept to himself ... It’s nice to be able to immortalize him in the film.”
Dow said the filmmakers still are working on getting “Honor in the Valley of Tears” shown on a cable network.
“I think it will happen. I just don’t know where,” he noted. “The military channel expressed an interest in it.”
Information about “Honor in the Valley of Tears” can be found on Facebook and at www.imdb.com.
— Jennifer Brummett
