Nashville – Every year, Operation Song partners with the Nashville VA Women’s Clinic to pair female veterans with professional female songwriters to tell their stories through song. Operation Song’s 2023 VA Women’s Clinic Retreat will be held on Saturday, April 1, with songs available shortly thereafter.
During the personal, emotional writing experience, and with the final recording of their songs, veterans process their struggles and find healing. The song itself becomes a powerful tool in helping the veteran “explain” their challenges succinctly to friends and family.
The participating songwriters for 2023 are Cindy Morgan (13 Dove Awards; 21 #1’s, cuts by Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, Glen Campbell); Lynn Langham (Grammy Award winner, cuts by Emmylou Harris/Rodney Crowell, Wynonna, Tammy Wynette, Don Williams/Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless); and recording artist & songwriters Jenn Franklin, Laurel Taylor, and Kaitlyn Killian.
Operation Song’s Executive Director Mike Byer states, “After serving their country, these veterans are now taking steps to serve themselves. They’ve sought the VA’s care and utilizing our program, which offers both a therapeutic process and a lasting marker of an important time in their lives.”
As an example of Operation Song’s professional output, “Love Like We Did” was written at the 2022 Women’s Retreat by veteran Teresa White and songwriter Jessee Lee (Kelsea Ballerini, Keith Urban, Brett Young). In it, White grapples with a troubled relationship, damaged by her struggles to open up again.
LISTEN HERE to “Love Like We Did” and find Operation Song’s catalogue on their Band Camp page.