New Huntsville non-profit sings the praises of veterans

BY ERIN COGGINS

Music is medicine. And using it to heal veterans is exactly what North Alabama resident Roberta Rodgers is doing.

Rodgers kicked off the Huntsville chapter of the non-profit Freedom Sings USA (FSUSA) on March 14-15. FSUSA helps veterans, military personnel and their families throughout the country reach emotional balance by telling their stories through the creative process of songwriting.

She first learned of FSUSA at a monthly Honoring Veteran Legacies meeting. A veteran who had participated in the songwriting process served as the guest speaker and Rodgers was there in a volunteer capacity. As a singer/songwriter, her interest was piqued.

“Honestly, that first encounter with FSUSA was a God-moment for me. I was struggling with my own personal demons at the time and needed a new direction,” Rodgers said. “Hearing about FSUSA and the veteran’s own experiences with the organization and how he credited the songwriting experience for saving his life, was like God telling me, this is your path. This is where you need to be.”

Rodgers jumped at the chance to work with the organization to host a writing retreat for Honoring Veteran Legacies. The event, held in October 2021, produced songs for seven World War II veterans and one Vietnam veteran.

That weekend, Rodgers partnered with songwriter and actor Scott Reeves to co-write a song on World War II veteran Harold McMurran. Rodgers and McMurran were not strangers. She got to know him on a trip to the Battle of the Bulge in June 2019. The song “I’d Do It Again (Harold’s Diary)” is about McMurran’s experiences landing on Utah Beach, fighting across Europe and coming home to marry the love of his life, Ruth.

“Being able to contribute to his song and then sing harmony the first time it was performed was a priceless experience and watching Harold and his wife, Ruth, as we performed was very emotional. There was such pride on Harold’s face,” Rodgers said. “After the song, I gave both of them a hug, and they both had tears in their eyes and big smiles on their faces. Harold later told us it was a life-changing experience that helped rekindle his and Ruth’s love for each other.”

As a daughter of a World War II veteran, Rodgers easily connects to veterans. Her father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force both during and post-war. She began volunteering with veteran organizations to honor his memory after he passed in 2009.

“Through these organizations, I have met people who have changed my life and made me a better person. Veterans have put their lives on the line for us through many wars and conflicts,” Rodgers said. “Without them, we would not have the freedom we enjoy. The least I can do to honor their service is volunteer my time to give something back to them.”

Not only was Rodgers’ father a veteran, he also loved music. There was always music playing in her home growing up. She learned to read and to play music on an organ her father bought for the family for Christmas in 1976.

“Dad always encouraged my musical ability and bought me a synthesizer when I was 14 years old to help me with songwriting and playing. I wanted to be a rock star,” Rodgers said. “Music gave me my identity. Even today, when someone asks me what I do for fun, I tell them I am a musician.”

Rodgers said she lost the music at some point in her life, and she credits a group of World War II veterans, who she accompanied on a honor trip to Europe for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, for bringing her creativity back.

“On that trip, I wrote the first song in about 10 years. That opened up the floodgates, and I haven’t stopped writing,” Rodgers said.

Since that initial FSUSA event in 2019, Rodgers has put her passion for music and her admiration for veterans to work, attending FSUSA’s online songwriting workshops and other chapter retreats to learn more about the organization and the songwriting process as well as get to know the people she would interact with within the national organization. She also worked with songwriter Don Goodman to compose a song for a local World War II veteran, James Cantrell.

“Last fall, we started setting the stage to kick off the Huntsville chapter. FSUSA registered as an Alabama non-profit,” Rodgers said. “I got approval from my church, Grace Lutheran, to host the retreats and workshops at the church, and to plan for the March retreat.”

The March retreat welcomed five Nashville songwriters, including Goodman, Steve Dean, Bobby Toberlin, Billy Whyte, Bill Diluigi, Huntsville’s own Jim Parker, and Rodgers. Dinner kicked off the event on Friday night followed by a songwriter-in-the-round during which the songwriters presented some of their songs. On Saturday, songwriters broke out with their assigned veterans to hear their stories and compose their songs. In the evening, the songwriters played the songs they had written during the day. Rodgers took part in the songwriting at the event as well, writing a song with Vietnam veteran Don Lamont.

“This was my first solo write with FSUSA, and it made my day when Dan told me he loved it,” Rodgers said.

The goals for the Huntsville chapter are to host songwriting workshops twice a month and host two weekend retreats yearly. The next scheduled retreat is Oct. 10-11, and the bi-monthly workshops are set for September. Once the group has enough songs written with local veterans, they will produce an album.

“We want to get more songwriters involved. There is so much talent in North Alabama,” Rodgers said. “I would love to have the support of the Huntsville Music Office. And my lofty goal is to have a fundraising concert at the Orion Amphitheater.”

Rodgers says the great thing about FSUSA is that it is not a one-time thing for the veterans. They are welcome to attend any of the workshops and retreats.

“We want to build a community for veterans to practice the craft of songwriting, enjoy camaraderie and have a place to share their stories,” Rodgers said. “The professional songwriters are some of the most humble and kind-hearted people know. They are encouraging and have such a passion for working with veterans. They put them at ease.”

From lining up the venue, securing sponsors, coordinating meals to operating the sound system and signing up veterans, Rodgers was basically an one-person show. She hopes to line up volunteers and add sponsors, Grace Lutheran Church and Redstone Federal Credit Union, for the October retreat. Although it was a workload, it was all worthwhile to Rodgers.

“It is always an exciting experience to watch the veteran’s reaction to their own song the first time it is played,” Rodgers said. “There is a look of anticipation on their face, followed by a smile and a look of pride. It fills me with joy to see that smile.”

Rodgers is currently looking for veterans interested in participating in a workshop or retreat. She has seen how therapeutic music can be during the process.

“I have talked to veterans who credit the songwriting experience for saving their lives and for helping them overcome PTSD,” Rodgers said. “It can be a tremendous emotional release. Continued participation with FSUSA and with other veterans in a unique community through music builds camaraderie. Simply put, music is the best medicine.”