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HBO: Can you describe what you were feeling the
day (HBO's) Sheila Nevins called you while
you were visiting your son in Section 60?
Paula Zwillinger: It was actually the second anniversary of
Bob's death. I happened to be at Arlington
Cemetery. And it was taking an emotional
toll, saying goodbye, and I was quite
emotional in the car before I headed home
and that's when Sheila called. She said,
hey, how are you, how are things? And I
said I was spending time with Bob, and
eventually I guess she put two and two
together, that I was at Arlington Cemetery
spending time with Bob. And I guess,
realizing the emotional toll that it takes on a
parent, even two years later, that's when the
idea of doing a documentary on Arlington
was born.
HBO: What does Section 60 mean to you?
Paula Zwillinger: Well, personally, from a parent perspective
of losing a son in war, it's an honor. It's the
highest honor that we could possibly give to
him, to have him placed there. Because you
want to do what's right for your child. You
want to honor him, and you want to make
sure that he's going to be taken care of no
matter what. No matter when my day finally
comes.
HBO: What is it about Section 60 that binds
everyone who visits there?
Paula Zwillinger: The film is a story about people at various
stages of grief who are opening their hearts
and souls. It shows the struggles these
people are going through. And the thing
about Section 60 is that everyone there has a
bond. And the bond is their grief. So no
matter what state that they are in, and no
matter what their opinions are on the war,
or what their gender or race is. That's all put
aside. We all bond together, the other
families, whether they're moms or brothers
or sisters or wives. And you get a feeling as
to where they are in their grief, and who you
can approach and who you can't. But it is a
bond; it is a gathering of individuals and
families that share one common thing. And
that's that their heart has been ripped open
and that their dreams have been shattered.
And there's not a whole lot to help you in
that realm. There's only one way to get the
help, and that's to really talk to somebody
who really feels that pain.
And that's what's so nice about Section 60.
It's a gathering of families that have been
through the exact same pain and emotional
heartbreak. It's a place like none other.
Because you know at any other cemetery,
when you go and you visit, you lay flowers or
you place a stone and you spend a couple
quiet moments there, and then you get in
the car and you drive away. But, that's not
the case in Arlington. Here is a place where,
for whatever reason, rules are broken,
relative to Section 60. And the families are
so thankful that that is done right now.
This is like our own little Vietnam wall
where you see all the mementos placed.
And that's why I think part of it is the
memory is so alive. Because of all the items
that are placed there. It's our way of dealing
with it and keeping the memory alive.
Whether it's my son's stone, or I go down
and place a flower on somebody else's stone.
And I can tell you that when families go
down, they respect everybody's stones,
especially on the holidays. They'll go visit
everybody. And the reason is because
there's this uncanny bond that's there.
That's what brings everybody together.
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