Armed Forces Radio And Television Service

The holiday season is usually a time for special programming on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, headquartered in Sunland, which provides entertainment and information to U.S. military personnel around the world. But this year, because of Operation Desert Shield in the Middle East, holiday programming will be severely limited.

Chinese troops armed with submachine guns stopped and boarded three buses carrying Japanese tourists today and confiscated rolls of film shot in the Beijing square where the pro-democracy movement was crushed. A Japanese Embassy official told reporters that the tourists returned safely to their hotel after soldiers took about 10 rolls of film. He said the tourists had stopped in Beijing on their way back from an international youth festival in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

For actor Joe Mantegna, co-hosting the annual National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol "has changed my perspective of this whole holiday." "It's a part of the process of what the day should be about, a coming together in remembrance and healing," said Mantegna, who has been involved with the concert since 2002. It airs on PBS at 8 p.m.

Marie Mosley sat in the shade of a tree at Pearson Park, crying, mulling over what to tell her youngest son when it was her turn on Thursday to send a 30-second videotaped message to his Marine Corps camp in Saudi Arabia. When it came time to go before the camera, Mosley and her husband, Charles, stepped up, arm-in-arm, ready to speak from the heart. "Well, your mom's crying, so let me tell you. . . .

Here's the rundown on guests and topics for the weekend's public-affairs programs: Today "Washington Journal": Michael Elliott of Newsweek; James Nicholson, chairman of the Republican National Committee; Adrian Cronauer, former Armed Forces radio announcer; Stephen Mason, deputy director, Armed Forces radio and television service, 5 a.m. C-SPAN. "Today": Women's health; new barbecue items; author Judy Blume ("Summer Sisters"), 5 a.m. (4)(39).

The headquarters of most big American radio and television networks are high above the towered streets of New York. An exception--the biggest network of them all, geographically--stands on a nondescript boulevard in Sun Valley. The building is full of the usual monitor-crammed control rooms, but some of the engineers at the control boards are in camouflage fatigues or other military uniforms.

Bothered by the thought of U.S. soldiers in the Persian Gulf having to spend the holidays away from home, Paragon Cable community television manager John Webber decided it was time to do something to show support. Beginning this week, Paragon Cable will start videotaping messages from family members and friends who have loved ones overseas.

Francis Scott Key it was not. Barely audible over a screaming electric guitar and a thundering bass, the lead singer of a heavy metal band belted out the group's salute to the men and women of Desert Storm. There was no rocket's glare, nor a bomb bursting in air: It's the power and glory , it's the freedom story. Freedom story? The guitars and drums smothered the remaining lyrics, although an occasional glory and power squeezed through. Air Force Master Sgt.