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Movies Honoring Memorial Day

Four WWII soldiers crouch together; text reads "Movies Honoring Memorial Day" with "kanopy" logo bottom left.

Remember, reflect, and celebrate. Kanopy’s Memorial Day Collection features inspiring films to help our library community honor those who served. Stream now at kanopy.com/category/48946.

Cartoon character of a smiling man with brown hair, wearing a black suit and purple tie.
Jason Tyrrell
Kanopy General Manager
A Black WWII soldier in a helmet crouches by barbed wire, with the text "A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day.

A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day

1.2 million African Americans served in World War II in some capacity, and although largely forgotten by history, nearly 2,000 African Americans were among the troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy.

Two men in naval uniforms with a warship at sea and the text "In Harm's Way" with actors’ names above.

In Harm’s Way

Director Otto Preminger’s epic treatment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor details the devastating attack on the Hawaiian naval base as well as the explosive, behind-the-scenes stories. An awesome cast – including John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda is interwoven into this account of the attack itself, as well as into the triumphs and tragedies of disobeyed orders, the American counter-offensive, father-son reunions, battles at sea, and layers of romantic entanglements. It’s a story that’s been told and re-told, but perhaps never so completely.

A WWII soldier in uniform with "THE WAR" film title and PBS and Kanopy logos on a black-and-white poster.

Ken Burns: The War

Emmy nominated documentary series The War is a story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four American towns. The war touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in American and demonstrated that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.

A female soldier and a German Shepherd in uniform, with an American flag and soldiers in the background.

Megan Leavey

A film based on the true life story of a young marine corporal (Kate Mara) whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq. When she is assigned to clean up the K9 unit after a disciplinary hearing, Leavey identifies with a particularly aggressive dog, Rex, and is given the chance to train him. Over the course of their service, Megan and Rex completed more than 100 missions until an IED explosion injures them, putting their fate in jeopardy.

A soldier in uniform and sunglasses stands with “What I Want You to Know” text beside him; Kanopy logo below.

What I Want You to Know

With courage and candor, American veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan share their wartime experiences and consider the impact of their wars on themselves and fellow veterans. Interspersed with actual images and video from both wars, their stories paint an intense and compelling picture of the post-911 wars and their cost.

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