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Ex Fabula: Seated Warriors — Veterans Day

Ex Fabula

Nov. 11 was originally called Armistice Day as a formal commemoration of the end of World War I. We now know it as Veterans Day — a day to recognize, honor and thank all who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Our first teller, Shawn Mitchell, shared the story of his family’s military legacy during a Sculpture Milwaukee tour on East Wisconsin Avenue earlier this year. The bronzed sculpture, “BAM (SEATED WARRIOR)” by Sanford Biggers reminded Shawn of his grandfather, the World War II veteran who inspired him to join the Navy.

However, things were different for Shawn's African-American grandfather who served in a very segregated Navy performing one of the most dangerous jobs: moving ammunition. Fortunately, his grandfather left the Navy just before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Shawn is grateful for his grandfather’s legacy as a veteran.

Credit Ex Fabula
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Ex Fabula

November is also National Novel Writing Month, and this week is National Young Reader’s Week, so in our second featured story, we’re recognizing a local storyteller who is also a writer and editor.

Cole Douglas remembers finding a collection of books in his grandparents’ house that blew his mind. He quickly fell in love with Reader’s Digest Mysteries of the Unexplained, diving into it each time he visited. Cole's love for stories never went away — in fact, it planted the seed that grew into his profession. To this day, he claims he owes most of his imaginative powers to Reader’s Digest.

Listen to Shawn and Cole's stories here:

A StorySlam dedicated to the theme of Discovery and featuring stories from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Scholars and selected community members will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the school (3275 N. Third Street). This event is free and open to the community.

A special Secret Fabula: A Look Back will be held from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 at ArtBar in Riverwest. Admission is free for Ex Fabula members – so purchase your membership today! For non-members, tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door if space remains.

Visit www.exfabula.org/tickets for more information on both events.