OBX Events Welcoming Veterans & Military Communities

By Chris Sawin on Apr. 11, 2019

The story of the Outer Banks is closely tied to the people who serve. At Kill Devil Hills, Lifesaving Service surfmen played an important role in helping the Wright Brothers during their early experiments. In 1923, Army Brigadier General Billy Mitchell led strategic air power demonstrations that sank battleships off Hatteras. During World War II, the Navy, Coast Guard, and Civil Air Patrol helped guard Outer Banks beaches while protecting Allied shipping lanes from submarine attacks. That history can be found throughout the region, and these upcoming 2019 events recognize that legacy. Additional historical fun facts are available on the Military & Veterans page.

North Carolina Veterans Songwriting Workshop

The first North Carolina Veterans Songwriting Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 on the Outer Banks through the Dare County Arts Council’s Veterans Arts Program. This free workshop will be guided by Ron Capps, founder of the Veterans Writing Project, a national nonprofit organization that has helped more than 3,500 veterans, service members and military families build the skills and confidence to share their experiences in writing.

Participants will work directly with the elements of music creation, including melody, harmony and song structure, along with lyric development through forms and structures, rhyme schemes, and narrative function. The format includes practice time and a chance to share work for feedback. Whether participants are beginners who play by ear or musicians who read music, the workshop offers fresh perspective on songwriting for veterans, active-duty military and their families. Attendees should have some familiarity with an instrument and are encouraged to bring their instruments.

The workshops will be held at First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A complimentary breakfast begins at 8 a.m., and a complimentary lunch will be served both days. Participants are encouraged to come in on Friday night for a performance by veteran songwriter and musician Jonny Waters, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dare County Arts Council during the First Friday celebration in downtown Manteo.

Brothers Like These: A Staged Reading of Poetry by Vietnam Veterans

Brothers Like These brings together stories and poems published in the book of the same name, with the book serving as the script for the May 23 staged reading. Brothers Like These, published by St. Andrews University Press, will be available for purchase during the event. The project was created by Vietnam combat veterans who met in Classroom B, located in the basement of the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville. Beginning in 2014, they gathered every Wednesday for nearly two years to write. The sessions were led by Joseph Bathanti, a professor of creative writing in Appalachian’s Department of English, and Dr. Bruce Kelly, a primary care physician at the VA.

2019 Outer Banks Veterans Week

The 7th annual Outer Banks Veterans Week is planned for November of 2019. OBX Veterans Week is a yearly celebration of veterans and their families through the arts. Events take place across the Outer Banks, from the northern beaches to Hatteras and the communities in between. A full listing of ceremonies and special events for veterans and active duty service members will be shared soon.

2019 Outer Banks Veterans Writing Project

The Outer Banks Veterans Writing Project will come back to the Outer Banks for its 7th year in November 2019. Workshop details are expected to be posted on the Dare County Arts Council event page by mid-May.

Author

Chris Sawin is the Executive Director at the Dare County Arts Council.