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FReeper Canteen ~ Tunes For Our Troops: Country Guitars ~ 02 June 2018
Our Troops Rock!!
| The Canteen DJ's
Posted on 06/01/2018 6:01:54 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; military; troopsupport; trooptunes
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To: Kathy in Alaska; All
G.I. JAMs has grown into a joyous event Kathy! I am not a Music Therapist, but, I've been a professional musician since the age of 12. That adds up to over 50 years now of making a living primarily as a musician, including my military service as a featured soloist in US Navy Bands.
I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress and have been diagnosed with depression and through the Veteran's Administration I became involved in "Mindfulness" therapy, While I initially dismissed it as psychobabble, I soon found that it took my mind off of my mental health issues, as well as my physical chronic pain and other ailments. I also came to realize that playing music was the most "mindful" activity I've ever experienced and I became an advocate to bring music therapy to my VA Medical Center in Salisbury.
I'm co-chair of the Veteran's Mental Health Council, the Veteran liaison on the Veteran's Education Council and a member of the Veteran's Family Advisory Council. Through these connections I set out to bring music therapy to the VA Hospital in Salisbury. You see, the VA have saved my life at least twice. I survived a decade of Graves Disease (2000-2010) and four years ago was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive bladder cancer with resulted in multiple surgeries and finally ended in a radical cystectomy. The VA also awarded me a modest disability pension which keeps me going.
I spent 2017 navigating the VA bureaucracy and being told various versions of "no", but, by joining Voluntary Services and working with the Recreational Therapy department and my various councils as sponsors - and recruiting several peer support specialists and doctors willing to donate their time, we inaugurated "G.I. JAMs" in February of this year.
I'm technically the "facilitator" or "coordinator" of the project, but my dream of "paying it forward" and helping Veterans through music has come to fruition because I never gave up. I still hope to see a "sanctified" music therapy program at the Salisbury VAMC, even if I have to go back to college and get certified in MT and get hired as a peer support specialist. At this point, I'm quite busy just promoting and growing G.I. JAMs which has gone from 14 attendees in Feb. to over 100 last month. The entire process has been a cornerstone of my own mental health therapy and practically a full-time job, I haven't time to be depressed. I have some wonderfully talented musicians involved and others who make up for talent with their enthusiasm and joy.
I transport and set-up my own PA system and an array of percussion instruments; I donated the drum-kit and G.I. JAMs has become Karaoke with a live band. The smiles of the participants and audience makes it all worthwhile. The event is open to the general public, although the people in the photos are mostly patients and VAMC staff. I invite everyone who is able to come to our events the first Monday evening of every month from 7-9 PM (set-up prior) at the Salisbury VAMC, 1601 Brenner Ave., Salisbury, NC 28144 in the Learning Center at Building 6. It's an awesome room and some wonderful people.
The War Department began studies on the benefits of music therapy as early as the mid-1940's and I'm convinced that my obsession is God's will and it is perhaps the most rewarding experience (short of the birth of my son) that I've ever had. I took these photos last month.
Here's a brief video I took at last month's G.I. JAMs:
That's The Way of the World (Earth, Wind & Fire)
81
posted on
06/01/2018 9:06:58 PM PDT
by
Drumbo
("Democracy can withstand anything except democrats." - Robert A. Heinlein)
To: The Mayor
Good evening/morning, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
Any rest this weekend?
82
posted on
06/01/2018 9:08:28 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; armyavonlady; ...
DAY AND NIGHT--
Enya~Book Of Days
If you would like to support the artists you hear in the Canteen,
please go to the top of the thread.
Please ping any DJ to any song requests
made on the thread. Thank you!
83
posted on
06/01/2018 9:11:31 PM PDT
by
luvie
(Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
To: spel_grammer_an_punct_polise
Good evening, spel, and thank you for the Friday Night Edition of the Salsa Addiction Emergency Room! ((HUGS))
84
posted on
06/01/2018 9:11:45 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; armyavonlady; ...
DAY AND NIGHT--
Fortunes~Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling
If you would like to support the artists you hear in the Canteen,
please go to the top of the thread.
Please ping any DJ to any song requests
made on the thread. Thank you!
I'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT YEAR. LOL!
SEE YA TOMORROW NIGHT!
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS....
...AND GOD BLESS
AMERICA!!
85
posted on
06/01/2018 9:17:20 PM PDT
by
luvie
(Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
Thanks, Dr. Bogus Pachysandra, for the great guitar tune for the troops. ((HUGS))
86
posted on
06/01/2018 9:25:25 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: ConorMacNessa
Pretty late, but....Permission Granted!
Welcome Aboard, Mac.
87
posted on
06/01/2018 9:34:16 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; All
88
posted on
06/01/2018 9:35:32 PM PDT
by
Drumbo
("Democracy can withstand anything except democrats." - Robert A. Heinlein)
To: LUV W
Good evening, Luv, and thanks for spinning tunes for the troops. ((HUGS))
89
posted on
06/01/2018 9:36:43 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: PROCON
LOL! I been in the ‘old folks’ club for a while.
But now it’s official! d:o)
90
posted on
06/01/2018 9:40:36 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; Drumbo; mylife; LUV W; MS.BEHAVIN; PROCON; radu
Thanks, Liberty, for the assist.Greetings & salutations!
Thanks for the Hank Garland and Merle Travis tunes. Here's one for the new High School Graduates tonight ;o)
Congratulations! - School's Out!
School's Out - Alice Cooper
91
posted on
06/01/2018 9:48:24 PM PDT
by
Liberty Valance
(Keep a Simple Manner for a Happy Life :o)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Howdy, Kathy! (((hugs)))
My pleasure! I enjoy doing it. Such a small thing for those who do so much for us!
Thank YOU for all you do...for us AND for them!
92
posted on
06/01/2018 9:55:19 PM PDT
by
luvie
(Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
To: Drumbo
I am so proud of you, Jimmy.....you have wanted to do something like this forever, and you have now succeeded through sheer perseverance!!
Congratulations!!
93
posted on
06/01/2018 9:59:09 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; All
94
posted on
06/01/2018 10:05:19 PM PDT
by
Drumbo
("Democracy can withstand anything except democrats." - Robert A. Heinlein)
To: Liberty Valance; radu; mylife; Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; Drumbo; Publius; PROCON
95
posted on
06/01/2018 10:06:50 PM PDT
by
Liberty Valance
(Keep a Simple Manner for a Happy Life :o)
To: Kathy in Alaska; All
96
posted on
06/01/2018 10:10:44 PM PDT
by
Drumbo
("Democracy can withstand anything except democrats." - Robert A. Heinlein)
To: Drumbo; BykrBayb; LUV W; radu; MS.BEHAVIN; left that other site; PROCON; ConorMacNessa; E.G.C.; ...
97
posted on
06/01/2018 10:27:30 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; All
98
posted on
06/01/2018 10:37:52 PM PDT
by
Drumbo
("Democracy can withstand anything except democrats." - Robert A. Heinlein)
To: LUV W
Rest well, Luv.
99
posted on
06/01/2018 10:39:36 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Drumbo
Thanks, Drumbo, for spinning tunes for the troops. ((HUGS))
100
posted on
06/01/2018 10:40:52 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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