Georgia veteran part of Turner Classic Movies programming

ATLANTA, Ga. - It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable Veterans Day for Hall County native and retired U.S. Marine Corporal Sean Adams, who will spend part of the day on national television sharing the spotlight with legendary stars including Henry Fonda and John Wayne.

Adams is one of six veterans chosen to help program the Veterans Day lineup on Turner Classic Movies this year.  Each was asked to pick and help present a classic film, and Adams chose 1962's all-star The Longest Day.  Part of his reason for deciding on the World War II epic has to do with one of its stars, the legendary John Wayne.  Says Adams, “I feel me and him have a similar ideology when it comes to country…That man had such a passion for his country, had such a passion for teaching the young generation, and then he had a passion for the military.”

Adams has that passion, too.  He signed up for the Marines back in 2010, as an 18-year-old and still in high school; less than two years later, an I.E.D. in Afghanistan took both of his legs and severely injured his arms and hands.  Adams admits that the road to recovery has been a grueling one, but for Turner Classic Movie host Ben Mankiewicz, the veteran’s story is nothing short of inspiring:  "I've sat across from a lot of great movie stars, but nothing's been more meaningful than our Veterans Day programming we've done the past couple years,” Mankiewicz says.  “These are people who have a range of political beliefs, a range of what they do now, but...they all believe in the idea that this country can be a great place and is a great place and is worth protecting."

Good Day Atlanta’s Paul Milliken got to spend some time behind-the-scenes at Turner Classic Movies, watching as Sean Adams taped his Veterans Day segment.  Click the video link above to check out the story – and you can catch The Longest Day Sunday night at 8 p.m. on Turner Classic Movies.