Celebrate the healing power of music in ‘Songwriting with Soldiers’

Celebrate the power of music to salve the wounds of war for returning veterans and their families in “Songwriting with Soldiers,” a unique collaborative of professional artists working with veterans to tell their stories of war and the return home through song.

WATCH: “Songwriting with Soldiers”

Since 9/11, the U.S. has been at war longer than any time in its history. Only one percent of the U.S. population serves in the military, and many veterans find the transition back to civilian life after service difficult. The Veterans Administration estimates that approximately 20 veterans take their own lives each day. “Songwriting with Soldiers” programs offer a safe space where authenticity and creativity are nurtured in an environment of acceptance, storytelling and connection to promote wellness for veterans, their families and their caregivers. “Songwriting with Soldiers” has held close to 50 weekend retreats for some 530 veterans, service members and their families, and produced over 400 songs to date.