Circle Cinema hosts local premiere of 'Make Peace Or Die'

TULSA, Okla. — It was an emotional night at Circle Cinema in midtown Tulsa where about 200 people were invited to the private screening and local premiere of "Make Peace Or Die" .

FOX23 has brought you extensive coverage of the effort by a local Veteran and his brother to make this film that focuses on Gold Star Families who lose a family member in service.

Inside Circle Cinema, the red carpet was rolled. A professional photographer was taking pictures of the filmmakers, their friends, family as well as fellow Veterans and other supporters.

This was an invitation-only event, especially to thank those who helped financially support the making of the film.

It tells the story of Anthony Marquez, an Owasso High School graduate and Marine Corps Veteran who lost 17 Marines in his unit during their deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.

When the Gold Star mom of his fellow Marine Robert Greniger tried to take her own life, Marquez set out on a mission to help these families heal and to bring them together.

“We're proud, I'm proud, and I think the families and the Marines who are involved in the story are proud in the way that we did it,” Marquez said.

One of the Gold Star Families, the mom and aunt of Robert Greniger, came to the showing.

Friday marks 13 years since he was killed in action and it's his story of his mom's suffering that sparked all of this.

There are two showings of the film during the festival. One for Saturday and the other for Monday when Veterans can see it for free.