The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) would like to thank and celebrate our veterans as well as our current soldiers by presenting War Comes Home, a series of events that will celebrate and promote a greater understanding of those who have served and are serving our country so valiantly. War Comes Home is funded by the California Reads Grant and will encourage the exploration of the impact war has on our communities.

LBPLThrough hundreds of events throughout California, it brings communities together with veterans and their families, writers, and historians for thoughtful reflection and lively discussion. The LBPL will be hosting several movie screenings, an author event and other educational and informational events from November through December. 

Coming Home Long Beach Author Event
Tuesday, Veterans Day, November 11 at 6:00PM, Main Library
Main will host Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead and Hotels, Hospitals and Jails to talk about his experience as a veteran and his writing process. Following the success of Jarhead, Swofford assumed he had exorcised his military demons, but as every veteran discovers, that isn’t how it works. What followed was his memoir Hotels, Hospitals and Jails.

War Comes Home Film Festival
This festival will feature family films, award winners and documentaries that explore the experiences of our veterans. See below for the full list of upcoming screenings.

The Lucky One (2012)
Tuesday, November 11 at 3:30PM
North Library

My Vietnam, Your Iraq
Saturday, November 15 at 2:00PM
Main Library Auditorium

Little Princess (1995)
Friday, November 21 at 2:00PM
Bach Library

Lioness
Saturday, November 22 at 2:00PM
Main Library Auditorium

Heroes (1977)
Saturday, November 29 at 2:00PM
Main Library Auditorium

Day of Days June 6, 1944
Tuesday, December 9 at 6:00PM
Main Library Auditorium

Veterans History Project
Saturday, November 15 at 2:00PM, El Dorado Library,
The library will host a program about the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

A Soldier’s Best Friend in Combat and at Home
Saturday, November 15 at 12:00PM, Dana Library Community Room
Luciano Aguilar and his Belgian Malinois, Ajax, share the special skills dogs use to help soldiers both in combat and at home. Aguilar, who served ten years in the United States Air Force as a Military Dog Handler, worked in the elite Presidential K9 Unit, whose primary mission was to secure Air Force One, for the last 5 years of his career.

Open House
Tuesday, November 18 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM, Main Library
Veterans are invited to an open house at the Information Center for People with Disabilities. Meet staff and volunteers, use the technology and assistive resources, get a library card, and browse the book collections.

Click here for more information about locations, times and events.

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].