A Milwaukee war hero is coming to the big screen. Sijan, a documentary recounting the life of Bay View native and Air Force Captain Lance Peter Sijan, whose actions in Vietnam made him the only Air Force Academy graduate awarded the Medal of Honor in U.S. history, will debut this week at the Milwaukee Film Festival.

The film is the result of more than 10 years of hard work for local filmmaker Tim Seymour and Lance’s sister Janine Sijan Rozina, who produced the documentary.

On CBS 58 Sunday Morning, Tim Seymour and Janine Sijan Rozina discussed the importance of sharing Lance’s story with the world.

Click here to view the story at CBS58.com.

Every Fourth of July, Americans take pause to recognize the selflessness and sacrifice of those who have put their life on the line for their country. Countless servicemen and servicewomen from Milwaukee have fought and given everything to uphold America’s independence, including a Bay View-born Air Force captain named Lance Peter Sijan.

Half a century after his death in a North Vietnamese prison camp following horrific injuries, unimaginable hardship, and unspeakable torture, Sijan’s name and heroics are still as remarkable and important as they were in 1968. For those who knew the Medal of Honor recipient during his brief-but-brilliant life, the love and legacy he left behind are just as special as his bravery in battle.

Click here to read full article at The Milwaukee Record.

The text below is an excerpt from Lee Matz’s June 29th article in the Milwaukee Independent. Click here to read the full article.

Bay View’s Avalon Theater hosted a private showing of the film “Sijan: A Quest for Freedom” on June 26, which featured the experiences, life, and courageous example of the Medal of Honor recipient as told through the memories of his family, friends, and fellow Vietnam Prisoners of War.

The premiere of the “Sijan” documentary was attended by several hundred guests, who all shared a special connection to the 25 year old Bay View native, Captain Lance Peter Sijan. Many in the audience traveled from across the country to see the film, and for the opportunity to trade their personal memories with others about the young man who had brought so much love and courage to so many.

“The story of Lance has propelled people to step into leadership roles, and I think that is what is so wonderful about all this,” said Patty Pritchard Thompson, Sponsorship Chair of the Bay View Neighborhood Association. “It has been really interesting to listen to all of the conversations between these amazing people who knew Lance and have been involved in preserving his memory. People in the movie offer firsthand accounts of being with Lance, so it is inspirational to see how their lives turned out after their experience with him.”

Click here to read the full article.

January 22, 2018, marked the 50^th anniversary of the death of Air Force fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Lance P. Sijan. who died at the Hòa Lò camp in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he had been a prisoner of war.

The 50th anniversary of his death was commemorated by a number of special events at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Sijan graduated in 1965. Among them was a taps ceremony held at 2300 hours on Monday, January 22 to commemorate the time of Sijan’s passing.

Click here to view the image gallery.

http://war-veterans.org/powrally2017.htm

There was a wealth of media coverage of the May 26th dedication of the Lance P. Sijan Memorial Plaza at General Mitchell International Airport. Please explore the links below to learn more about the event.

Milwaukee Independent

Fellow POWS honor their fallen brother at Sijan plaza dedication

Milwaukee Independent

Photo Essay: An Example Of Courage Installed At Mitchell Airport

WTMJ Cares

Click here for multiple items related to the dedication including video and an image gallery.

WTMJ Cares: Lance Sijan memorial dedication

For a video of the dedication ceremony, click here.

WUWM

Faith Can Move Mountains – or an F-4C Phantom Jet

TMJ4

414ward: Keeping Sijan’s legacy alive

Jsonline

Click here for a video at the Journal Sentinel website.

Jsonline

Photos: Milwaukee Medal of Honor, Lance Sijan memorial is dedicated

WISN

Landmark dedicated to hometown hero has new home

CBS58

Captain Lance P Sijan Memorial Plaza Dedicated

Fox6Now

Hometown hero: Community honors Captain Lance Sijan at Mitchell Intl. Airport

TMJ4

Lance P. Sijan Memorial Plaza dedicated Friday

Facebook

PAYING RESPECTS:
A memorial is being dedicated at the Milwaukee airport for Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Captain Lance Sijan.

Click here to view the gallery at WTMJ.com.

Watch the WTMJ Facebook Live webcast of the Lance Sijan Memorial Dedication.

Click here to watch.

The Vietnam War ended. A changed nation coped with what it had done to us as a country as well as to those who served. For a Bay View family that lost a son and brother, it meant dealing with the hard truth about his death and turning that into a positive force. Wisconsin’s Morning News host Gene Mueller is heading up our latest WTMJ Cares effort to honor Medal of Honor recipient Lance Sijan.

To hear the full story, click here.