Legion commits to sponsor benefit screenings nationwide Memorial Day through Veterans Day of critically acclaimed family film about heroic World War I dog with links to Legion history.
Fun Academy Motion Pictures is offering American Legion posts nationwide opportunities to screen the critically acclaimed animated family film "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero" beginning Memorial Day weekend (May 25) and continuing through Veterans Day (Nov. 11), with the help of veterans-outreach 501(c)(3) nonprofit VetFlicks.org.
"Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero" received top critic scores after it was released in theatres nationwide on April 13. The film stars Logan Lerman, Helena Bonham Carter and Gérard Depardieu, and is based on the incredible true story of the first and most decorated dog in American history, Sgt. Stubby, a stray rescued off the streets of New Haven, Conn., by a U.S. Army doughboy on the eve of World War I and, when given a chance, saved countless lives in the trenches of France. Sgt. Stubby is still recognized today as the first dog promoted through combat in U.S. Army history, and is widely seen as the forerunner of the modern military working dog program.
As one of the first animated films to be based on a true story, and the only World War I-themed film suitable for families to be released during this centennial commemoration year, "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero" – which received the coveted Dove Foundation approval for all ages – remains a popular choice among families and organizations nationwide interested in history and quality family entertainment with an educational component.
This heartwarming story also has a real American Legion connection. Sgt. Stubby, who was smuggled into France and served on the front line in World War I, became famous for warning his unit of a gas attack, saving lives on the battlefield and even capturing a German prisoner. Following the war, Stubby marched in multiple Legion national convention parades, including the inaugural one in 1919 in Minneapolis. He was an official member of Eddy-Glover American Legion Post 6 in Connecticut, the only known canine to ever become an official member of the Legion.
“My theme all year has been Family First! Veterans and audiences of all ages – children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, everyone – will love Fun Academy’s animated film 'Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero,'” said National Commander Denise H. Rohan. “The American Legion and Sgt. Stubby were born of the same spirit – that of the American doughboy who fought to victory in 1918.”
Richard Lanni, the film's writer/director and founder of Fun Academy, “We are thrilled to join with The American Legion to bring this vital chapter in their history – our history – to veterans and their families.”
For more information about screenings for local American Legion posts, contact GroupSales@FunAcademyStudios.com. Click here to read more about the movie’s development.
- Honor & Remembrance