Veterans Empowered Together (VET) and the Bluegrass Music Academy joined forces to create a unique and impactful event they’re calling “Enlisted: Songs from a Veteran Songwriting Camp.”
A small group of veterans and local musicians came together at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where they could write and record their own songs. The camp ran all day and offered an intimate setting for veterans to learn about music as a form of therapy.
“Our mission is to help other veterans in our community, and it’s multifaceted because we have equine and music therapy, and we’ll soon have nature therapy,” said VET board member Melody Wallace. “Everyone’s experiences aren’t the same, so everyone’s method of healing is different.”
She added how impactful it is to see local musicians such as Randy Lanham, James Elliott, Wayne Morris, Brian Basham, Chris Joslen, and Kylie Anderson.
“It’s so neat that members of our community are constantly chipping in to support our mission and to help veterans,” she said. “It’s so neat when everyone works together for the good of those who served.”
Lanham echoed a similar sentiment.
“What a blessing,” Lanham said. “I’m so thankful to be able to do something like this, and I told the veterans that when we started out this morning and thanked them for their service. I thank God for giving me this gift of songwriting to be able to give something back to them.”
Lanham and the other musicians absorbed each veteran’s story and assisted them in creating lyrics that aligned with a melody. Holding back tears, he referenced one veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan for 9 months when his daughter was only 10 days old.
“I think about the sacrifice these men and women have made, and the fact that they’re coming here to the Bluegrass Museum and entrusting us to help them write a song just absolutely humbles me,” he said. “I can’t thank God enough for the opportunity because we’re all given gifts, every one of us, and mine is music. So, to be able to give this gift to a veteran that has served — what a blessing.”
Several veterans were initially nervous and reluctant to share their story, but Lanham said the musicians were patient, and it wasn’t long before they started “opening up.” It’s more than an interview; the veterans are a part of the entire songwriting process, and volunteers and veterans agree that it requires a level of vulnerability.
Local veteran Chaz McKay was one of the nervous ones, but he immediately recognized the benefit once he began telling his story.
“I was nervous, really nervous,” McKay said. “I don’t like to talk much about my time or story. I would hear other veterans’ stories; they’re so wonderful; I didn’t know if mine could compare.”
At the end of the session, the veterans recorded a full demo of the song they prepared.
“It’s been awesome – they’re able to pull all of your thoughts right out of you, and it’s in your words,” McKay said. “Next time, I would encourage any veteran to step out of their comfort zone and try this because that’s what I had to do, and it’s been such a blessing.”
James Elliot of the Owensboro-based band Yellow Banks was elated to be part of the experience. Yellow Banks pays homage to Owensboro’s original incorporated name, and Elliot takes pride in representing the city on stage when he tours.
Elliot’s grandfather served in WWII, and his uncle earned the Purple Heart in Vietnam, but he couldn’t ever hear many of their stories. He enjoyed combining his passion for music with his respect for the military.
“It was a pleasure and honor just to be invited,” he said. “It was nice to be able to talk to these guys and hear their stories. Major thanks to VET for including me and letting me be a part of it.”
