Wars Voices - Val Burgess at TEDxBillings

Are You Listening? Hearing is an underrated sense. Every moment of our lives we hear extraneous noise without actually listening. Committed listening is endangered. This sense is a gift and a most valuable tool if only we take the time. Today, I hope you hear and understand the lessons presented from World War II Prisoners of War, and garner your own remarkable values from them. My lifetime passion is to be a conduit, to help you find from their words, one value advantageous to your own life.

In 1995, Val had the remarkable experience of traveling with 125 former prisoners of war to Stalag Luft III, "The Great Escape Prison Camp" of WWII fame. The intimate accounts, history and values of these exceptional men convinced her that she must be their voice once they have been silenced. This phenomenal opportunity has allowed the resilient voices of prisoners from both the European and Pacific theaters of war to be heard. Today Burgess continues to record their narratives.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)