WWII Homecoming Song - Composed by Veterans (Full Version w/ Intro)

Songwriting Works proudly presents the first published video of a song composed by elders and their loved ones as part of our current award-winning program on the Olympic Peninsula. The song's creation offers a striking example of how collaborative songwriting can improve cognitive function and bring other health and social benefits. During the session, the daughter of one participant awakened to her father's unspoken love for his twin brother — she moved him across the country to spend his final year by his brother's side.

The "World War II Homecoming Song" sprang to life one afternoon during a collaborative songwriting session with more than 30 elders and their loved ones at the Dungeness Courte Alzheimer's Community in Sequim, WA. When four veterans of World War II began to share their stories, the group began to compose a masterpiece both from the perspective of veterans returning home, and the families who greeted them.

The video, created by Aba Kiser, with production support from Andrew Burke and Ben Ericson, references images from the Second World War that spark the imagination and help the song come to life. The song was recorded live during a celebratory concert in Port Townsend on 11/11/2009 with Judith-Kate Friedman, Matt Sircely, Anke Summerhill, Keeth Monta Apgar, Paula Lalish, and the PT Songlines Choir, directed by Laurence Cole. Jeff Leinaweaver provided narration.

Special thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts for making this pilot project possible through a 2009 Creativity and Aging in America grant. SW is the proud recipient of the 2012 MetLife/National Center for Creativity and Aging in America Leadership Award, the 2010 Rosalinde Gilbert Caregiving Legacy Award, the 2008 Society for the Arts in Healthcare Blair Salder International Healing Arts Award, and the 2007 MetLife/American Society on Aging MindAlert Awards.

Learn more at:
www.songwritingworks.org

http://www.razoo.com/story/Songwritin...

and

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Songwr......

• Category

  Music

[wwiisongresponse]

Here is a wonderful project sponsored by Port Townsend's Songwriting Works Educational Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and Dungeness Courte Alzheimers Community, combining creativity, aging and healing. Read the article, and make sure you click the link to the You Tube video - truly touching. ----Washington State Arts Commission on Facebook wa.arts.gov

[wwiisongresponse]

"Wow, so incredibly moving... stirred the depths of my soul and what a fabulous journey this must have been for all involved. I so wish I'd had an opportunity like this with my mom, who suffered severe dementia the last years of her life. I know this was an enormous gift to all of those lucky enough to take part." ~ Linda Lockwood, Port Townsend, WA

[wwiisongresponse]

Wonderful work! -- Jim Watt

[wwiisongresponse]

This is wonderful! Well done.  -- Judy Allison

[DLoggy72]

I just want to say thanks for all of those who contributed to this creation. I knew that it was in progress, but since my father, Herman Logsdon, has passed now two years ago. Letting go has been hard, but efforts such as this are heartwarming and further healing.

[wwiisongresponse]

Incredible and moving! What you and others have done to pull together the introduction, excellent photos, and music involving input from the elders who experienced the war, is truly inspiring. You should be so very proud of the result which obviously involved an enormous amount of work and commitment.

Congratulations! -- Gloria Kavanaugh

[August Brunsman]

In Beauty It's Begun! Thanks, Judith-Kate for bringing forth beauty from our elders. First Class! Congratulations! Hope Homecoming goes viral! Long life, Honey in the heart, No evil, Thirteen thank yous, Love & peace, Gus

[LightYearsFilm]

Inspiring and beautiful way to literally give a voice to so many veterans and their families. Great work!

[harmonicapocket]

A story well told. Bravo!

[Rhea Goodman]

the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. what a wonderful effort...

the song is moving and real and, by being made, used people in a way they had forgotten themselves. bravo to all of you.