Methuen Village Social Program Director, Kathleen Corey Rahme, Wins Cable TV Award

Methuen Community Television Takes Home National Award for Veterans Show
REPRINTED FROM THE EAGLE TRIBUNE STORY by Brian Messenger
bmessenger@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Sat Nov 12, 2011, 01:47 AM EST

METHUEN — Volunteers at Methuen Community Television know it’s often difficult for military veterans to share war stories with even their closest family members.

But since 2003, close to 100 local veterans have come to the MCTV studio to talk about their experiences in uniform for the award-winning local access show "Call to Serve."

"Some of these stories are hard for these people to tell," said MCTV Executive Director Karen Hayden. "It's really become very deep and meaningful for the guests as well as the crew."

"Call to Serve" is now airing its ninth season on MCTV. In July, the program took home a Hometown Award from the The Alliance for Community Media in Tucson, Ariz. There to accept the award was Hayden, show host Kathleen Corey Rahme, and director Paul Clover.

"I was so proud of Kathleen and the whole 'Call to Serve' crew," said Hayden. "They've worked so hard for so long and have been so dedicated to telling the stories of the veterans. To see them recognized is terrific."

Hayden said the "Call to Serve" crew will celebrate their award with local veterans tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Methuen Senior Activity Center, 77 Lowell St.

Hayden said this is just the second time an MCTV program has received a Hometown Award, which recognize excellence in local television programming.

The first award came in 2008 for volunteer Tom Gradzewicz's program on arts and crafts.

"They're hard to get," said Hayden.

The award-winning episode of "Call to Serve" featured the personal history of local U.S. Navy veteran Joseph "Buzz" Sawyer.

Hayden said "Call to Serve" is one of the more popular shows on MCTV.

"The original intent of the program was to collect these stories," said Hayden. "But it's become a whole lot more than that. There's a lot of bonding between the cast and the guests."

Follow Brian Messenger on Twitter under the screen name Brian_Messenger. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.

TUNE IN:
What: "Call to Serve"
When: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7 p.m.
Where: MCTV, Comcast Channel 22, Verizon Channel 33

Visit all of SLR's Communities!