When Veterans Empowered Together (VET) board member and U.S. Army veteran Brian Basham first created the concept of a veteran music program, it came from a personal place of coping and healing.
“I struggled with anxiety — music was always the coping mechanism I used,” Basham said. “So I brought the idea to Randy Lanham and he was crazy enough to say yes, and Matt Gray joined on, too. We started with one [song] and went from there.”
This week, just more than one year after its inception, the “Enlisted: Songs From a Veteran” music program celebrated 12 veterans whose stories had been shared, written, and recorded throughout 2024. Veterans and the artists who brought their stories to life through song were treated to an intimate meal and celebration at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
The veterans were presented with framed copies of the songs they inspired.
“Tonight was about celebrating the veterans who were vulnerable enough to share their stories, to let other people know what that means to us, and hopefully it meant something to them as well,” Basham said of Thursday’s ceremony. “It’s about just knowing the program is beneficial in healing for a lot of people — veterans or not.”
He said many of the stories were told from the veterans’ perspectives, while some were from the perspectives of their family members. Brad Miller shared stories of his grandfather Kenny Miller and his experiences as part of the “Ghost Army.” Brad and his grandmother Jenny Bell — Kenny’s widow — were in attendance to receive a printed copy of the song.
Basham said that there has been a song released every month since January 2024, and the program would be able to continue through 2025 thanks to a generous donation from the leadership at AMVETS Post 75.
After each veteran had an opportunity to be recognized and asked about their experiences, Lanham shared his appreciation with those in attendance and thanked the veterans for being open to sharing their stories.
“I think your stories are going to educate and inspire a lot of people like me who just don’t know what you’ve gone through … and how you served,” Lanham said. “We really appreciate you. We could never thank you enough.”
