The Roanoker - March/April 2019 - 19

Streamlining
Bus and Train
Service
continued from page 16

-DAN SMITH

18

MARCH/APRIL 2019

The Power of Music
Helping Veterans
A program for retired veterans offers a unique kind of
therapy for both students and instructors.

G

UITARS FOR VETS is a
music therapy program for
retired veterans suffering from
PTSD. Most classes are taught at the
Salem VA, which provides meeting
space, instrument and storage. Instructor
David Lynch began the program as a
student like everyone else, but enjoyed
the experience so much he now leads it.
"Many times, retired vets are isolated
and suffer from depression, and have no
social life," he says. "This program gets
them out with fellow vets; they already
had that camaraderie in the military, so
they understand each other, as well as
know what others are going through or
where they've been. It's low stress and
brings them out of their shells."
The group, formed in 2007, is
comprised of 15 guitarists who have
been playing together for about three
years. They volunteer guitar lessons at the
Salem VA, providing a 10-week program,
free to in- and out-patients. Vets who do
not own guitars are provided instruments
during the class, while those who
complete at least eight of the 10 weeks
are given a free guitar with accessories
after "graduating." (Lynch cites Kelly's
Music as a loyal donor of guitars, strings
and picks.)
Students come from all types of
military backgrounds, whether they're
younger with experience in Iraq or

Afghanistan, or older vets who have
suffered for years and only recently found
the program.
"It's the most satisfying thing to
see these guys, most who have been
isolated, open up, not because they'll
be fabulous musicians, but there are no
expectations. This gives them a sense of
accomplishment they might've missed
since being released from the service,"
Lynch says. "It's almost unheard of, the
healing power of music. It helps me, too.
I might be having a bad day, but I go to
class and always feel better when I'm
there. It helps not only the individuals,
but the instructors, too."
Lynch says their program is unique in
that even after the 10 weeks are up, many
veterans stay together after the class,
playing at veterans' activities, nursing
homes, fairs and private parties.
"We play a lot of '60s and '70s folk,
stuff like the Eagles and Crosby, Stills
and Nash," he says. "We'll incorporate
more new stuff since we're playing more.
It's a lot of fun."
Guitars for Vets is a 501c organization
and accepts donations. For more
information, visit GuitarsforVets.org, or
to learn more about the local chapter
(or to book them for your own event),
contact David Lynch at dlynch457@
gmail.com. I
-LIZ LONG

TheRoanoker.com

COURTESY OF GUITARS FOR VETS

Developer John Garland, who
resigned from council recently
because of conflicts of interest
between his company and being
on council, calls the plan "an allaround win [creating] a modern
non-subterranean bus depot that
is not in the heart of downtown ...
We can promote private investment
that creates jobs in a progressive
and sensitive manner." He calls
the current depot "outdated and
an embarrassment" and believes
C a m p b e l l c o n g e s t i o n "n o t
welcomed."
Garland sees the project as
allowing "for an expansion of
our most successful downtown
commercial area. The proposal from
the developer was the least costly
option that the city had in order
to meet" its needs.
But the deal is especially sweet,
says Garland, because "it will also
be the most expedient option to
obtain the train depot by trading
buildings between the city and the
developer and using an existing
building for the train depot that
requires only remodeling. Having
the bus depot two blocks further
out of the heart of town will make
the best use of downtown real
estate and not inconvenience the
users. Having the buses outside of
a building will be better than the
current situation."
The solution has taken a while
to come to the fore, says, Garland:
"Council has been in favor of this
proposal since presented almost two
years ago now. It is complicated
and required ample time to develop
an appropriate agreement. The
pieces have come together and
should be able to move forward
toward implementation."I
http://usacustom.com http://www.GuitarsforVets.org
The Roanoker - March/April 2019

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