Tell Us Your Story
Are you serving in the Armed Forces? Do you know someone who is? We are dedicating this page to your stories, whether you’re currently deployed, a veteran of Vietnam, or have a friend or family member who is or was a soldier.
We invite you to share your experiences: combat stories, how music makes a difference for you, coping with anxiety or PTSD.
We hope this page will be a resource for you, that these stories will help both soldiers and civilians understand more about post-traumatic stress disorder and how it can be eased through the healing power of music.
Please send your stories, pictures, questions or comments to us. We’ll be posting some of those stories here for others to see and learn from, as well as other stories we find online.
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Music Was My Passport: A Note from Nell
Never has music been a more obvious entry to the soul than on my trips to play for the troops. Sadly, most civilians equate the loyal men and women fighting in our wars with the political machinery that drove us there in the first place. That could not be further from the truth. I was blessed to meet brave faces that convinced me of the humanity in the world, and of the power of music to connect all people.
These are big words, I know, and I don’t use them lightly. Music was my passport: it was the way I could relate to people from widely differing backgrounds and political ideologies. I met people who approached me after a concert with tears in their eyes, who heard a certain song that reminded them of their back porch and barbecues in the summer, who told me about their wife or son back home, and who invited me into their hearts and thanked me profusely. It was humbling.
Red state, blue state: it seems the media would love for us to continue with our political divide. But it is our hearts and souls that connect us as Americans, and this connection comes out loud and clear through music.
I’m not naïve enough to argue that Rock ‘n’ Roll can save the world. But it did make it better for one night. Sitting around a bonfire making S’mores with a firefighters unit. EMT’s having a tailgate party on the back of their ambulance. The MP escorts who became close friends of mine, and showed me pictures of their wives and children as we sat through a sandstorm far from our loved ones. These troops regularly face down experiences that run contrary to every human instinct.
War is hell, but modern warfare holds its own unique demons. There are long hours of boredom followed by intense moments of absolute uncontrollable terror; a guerilla enemy who hides among the civilian population, making everyone a possible suspect; Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other random horrors hidden in every bump of the road; extended tours and frustrating recalls to active duty. The only thought worse than the reality of their situation is imagining what lies behind every corner. Their stress is more than I can bear to think about. And meanwhile their families back home feel the strain of a free-fall economy and an unsympathetic civilian community.
For one night we tried to change the balance. We played songs that brought a slice of home to these brave men and women. We tried to remind them of a side of themselves they so often have to overlook.
I am not a celebrity. There was something wonderful about the fact that a normal civilian like myself was welcomed with such open arms and expressions of gratitude. And in the end, this was entirely appropriate, because the troops are the true stars. They are the ones putting their lives on the line. Music was my passport to meet people I never would have otherwise met, people who trusted me and gave me a window into their soul. It reinvigorated my faith in our country, in our ability to be United States, rather than the disparate political factions we are told we’ve become.
This was because of a song. This was because of a guitar. No matter what the troops say they got out of my tour, believe me I got more out of it. They remain the true inspiration.
–Nell Bryden |
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Thanks from Kyle’s Mom
Nell,
My son, Ssgt. Kyle Henson, was there for your tour at the Air Force base. He is a firefighter. I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your music with this troop. I know how hard it was for him to be there, for the second time, and your presence lifted their spirits. He has told us several times about your S’more adventure! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely,
Angela Henson (Kyle’s Mom) |
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Thinking About Your Show
Nell, I was in Iraq when you did a show. You were in Al Asad and a dust storm forced you to stay put for an extra day. It was an incredible show. That was when I found out that Bryan your drummer and I were from the same home town.
It has been over a year since that show and I wanted you to know it still rings true as one the best moments of that year. All the best and I look forward to seeing the documentary and to see you play stateside.
Take care, John N |
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So Glad I Finally Saw the Film!
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to Orlando to see “Striking a Chord” at the Global Peace Festival. My son was a part of the video and I am the mother who wrote the email to Nell Bryden that she read in the movie. It is difficult to describe all of the emotions that I felt while watching the film. I cried, laughed, and felt so blessed that my son had the opportunity to meet Nell Bryden – she is such a genuine person, very talented and has a gift for reaching out to people. Without music, I don’t know if my son would have endured his deployment as well as he did. We shipped his guitar to him when he first arrived at Al Asad – this was his therapy. It was such a treat when musicians would come to the base and perform. This movie will hopefully bring to the public’s attention what these performers go through in order to bring a little piece of home and comfort to our Soldiers and Marines. They are truly the unsung heroes of the war.
Thank you.
Lynn P. McGuire |
