Camp offers vets chance to share through song
Published: January 19, 2012
WASHINGTON – LifeQuest Military Transitions, a Colorado charity catering to wounded veterans, today launched its second songwriting camp for combat veterans, pairing 11 would-be lyricists with a trio of country music artists to help tell the story of war and its aftermath.
The effort is also designed to help raise money for future outreach projects. Organizers have already released six songs from the first camp (held last summer) on iTunes, and hope to finish out an album following this weekend’s camp, with future proceeds going to the wounded vets and the charity’s own programs.
John Wall, a former Army staff sergeant who was injured in a 2007 roadside bomb attack in Iraq, attended the camp last summer and will be returning this year as a organizer and participant. He said the camp was an unexpected opportunity for him to find a release for his pent-up emotions upon returning back to the United States.
“I write a lot, but only for myself,” he said. “Writing a song seemed like an impossible task, but when I met with (the artists), we just talked and let them be creative. And I just felt better, like sharing some of those experiences had helped.”
He described the process as part therapy, part jam session. The experience helped convince him to broach new challenges following his struggles with back surgery and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Wall also said he hopes the sharing also helps civilians get a better understanding of the memories and challenges of veterans returning from war. Songs from the first camp can be heard (or purchased) on the iTunes “Faces of Freedom” page.
The latest camp runs through Monday. The new songs are expected to be released sometime this spring.
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