What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1302565
we support, and I'm convinced that there is a strong connection. We have had veterans tell us that playing and learning guitar has changed their lives, and some even talk about how it diverted them from thoughts of self- harm, so I am a believer. "If we can provide a free guitar — we accept donations of instruments, and if they need repair, we make that happen — and some regular lessons, and if that helps a veteran deal with PTSD, I think it's one of the most important things that I can do at this point in my life," Vire says. The organization welcomes all veterans, regardless of skill level. "We primarily provide free guitar and songwriting lessons for vets as well as an instrument if they need one," says Haight. "For beginners, we simply want them to be able to play a song well enough to please themselves. They quickly find out that if you can play one song, there are a thousand more they can play as well. Pre-covid, we spent a lot of time together playing, teaching and learning at the VA. Our goal was for a vet to become confident and proficient enough to sit in the circle with us and play along. The VA has been a wonderful partner for our chapter, and we miss the interaction with vets, families and VA employees that we had on the hospital campus. If a vet comes to us with some skills, then we quickly bring them on as mentors for the beginners and as advisory members for our board of directors. At present, we have four students we are working with through Zoom." Both Haight and Vire say they have no doubt the organization is making positive changes in the lives of area vets; they've both seen the evidence. "We have vets who have told us that the music SSV brought into their lives literally saved them," says Haight. "Their families and loved ones see the changes in the vets, also." "We have one veteran that we work with who lives in Oklahoma," says Vire. "There is no SSV chapter where he lives, so he has joined our group. Last year, he spent a long time in a coma and lost lots of his physical capacities. He relies on oxygen every day and was really down when he hooked up with our group. He had played professionally many years ago, but had really given up on ever playing again and was severely depressed. "Since he started working with SSVNWA, he has really improved his playing dramatically and is writing songs again. He says that getting back into playing and having our group to play and write with have totally changed his outlook and his life. I love that. To me, that's what SSV is all about." Go to: facebook.com/BestBranson Like The Best of Branson on Facebook for a chance to win some Really Great Prizes! This week's prize: New contest each week! facebook.com/BestBranson Like our Facebook page before 11:59 pm this Tuesday, Oct. 27, to be entered to win... 2 Passes for a "Two-Race Package" at Xtreme Racing Center of Branson Located at 3600 West 76 Country Blvd. in Branson 1-888-270-1720 | XtremeRacingCenter.com Soldier Songs Continued From Page 11 40 WHAT'S UP! OCTOBER 25-31, 2020 GO ONLINE! PRESIDENT Brent A. Powers EDITOR Becca Martin-Brown 479-872-5054 bmartin@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAbecca ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jocelyn Murphy 479-872-5176 jmurphy@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAJocelyn DESIGNER Deb Harvell 479-872-5029 REPORTER Lara Hightower 479-365-2913 lhightower@nwadg.com WHAT'S What's Up! is a publication of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. ON THE COVER 'Tis the season for things that go bump in the night. (COURTESY PHOTO/DANIEL LINCOLN VIA UNSPLASH)