Guest Post: Sarasota Film Festival volunteer and veteran shares his perspective

Editor's Note: The 2014 Sarasota Film Festival opening night and Acts of Valor series is presented in partnership with Legacy of Valor, a campaign created by The Patterson Foundation that honors veterans and their families in Southwest Florida. 

Dick Cooley, a first-year Sarasota Film Festival volunteer and retired Army Special Forces and Intelligence officer, talks about his service, the Sarasota Film Festival's partnership with Legacy of Valor, and the films in the festival's Acts of Valor series, such as "Wings" and "In Country."

“Legacy of Valor—and the film festival’s Acts of Valor film series—is a first step for our younger generation to understand the legacy and history of our country,” said Cooley, who retired with the rank of colonel. “These films will survive the test of time and provide a historical perspective of what our veterans have done for this country. This is especially important since thousands of our WWII veterans are dying each day. Films provide an entertaining vehicle to tell the stories and experiences of our nation’s veterans, past, present and future.”

Col. Cooley served our country for 33 years, following in the footsteps of his father. He was sworn into service on September 3rd, 1966, by his father, in the same room and on the same day that his father had been sworn in. Together they had 60 years of military service to our country.

Having visited Sarasota National Cemetery, Col. Cooley pointed out that having The Patterson Foundation partner with the National Cemetery Administration to design, build and donate Patriot Plaza, a 2,800-seat ceremonial amphitheater at the cemetery, is fulfilling a tremendous need in our community.

According to Cooley, Patriot Plaza will provide a much-needed place for visitors to gather and pay homage to our veterans. The amphitheater will be dedicated to the community on June 28.

Col. Cooley will attend today's opening night film, "Last Days in Vietnam," directed by Rory Kennedy.

Here Col. Cooley's opinions on everything from the opening night film to The Patterson Foundation's work to create Patriot Plaza, a 2,800-seat amphitheater at Sarasota National Cemetery: