Bedford VA Veterans Win Top Music Awards at National Arts Festival

By Robert M. Cook

Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital

Veterans Joe Ramage, Seamus Gersey and Kevin Dougherty played music years before they worked at the Bedford VA, but it wasn’t until they enrolled in the Creative Arts program that they found their groove and won a string of national awards.

Ramage, and Gersey’s performances, won first place in the 2015 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival for Best Patriotic Song, “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie, and for Best Rock Vocal for Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Daylight Again.” Dougherty won first place for his multi-media video and song, “She’s a Veteran, Too.”

When Ramage and Gerseyperform , they sound like a seasonedduo,though their partnership is just a few years old.“We met here at the hospital and I was already involved in the Creative Arts program,” Ramage recalled.

They entered their songs in the annual national competition in February and learned through the Bedford VA’srecreation coordinator in June that they had won two first place awards.

Kevin Doughertyjoined the VA’s Creative Arts program three years ago and has worked at the Bedford VA for six years as a motor vehicle operator. Dougherty also plays his music for the Veterans, “I do it all with these guys,” he said.

Dougherty said he has been writing and performing songs for several years. A 22-year Navy Veteran, he played his song, “He’s My Little Man,” for then President George H.W. Bush during Desert Shield in 1990. Dougherty said he wrote the song for his then-2-year-old son.

He wrote “She’s a Veteran, Too” a year ago as a tribute to all of the women Veterans he has encountered at Bedford VA and combined it with a multi-media video.

The three will perform their winning songs on stage at the national competition in October atthe University of North Carolina. Earlier this month, they were honored to be invited to be opening acts for country music star, Ricky Lee, who performed his Music-4-R-Vets concert at Bedford VA.

This will be Dougherty’s third time going to the national arts competition, the fifth trip for Ramage and the second time for Gersey.All three had high praise for the Bedford VA’s Creative Arts program for the way it motivated them to use their songcraft as a way to express their feelings and to further develop their talent.

While gaining recognition at the awards ceremony is always good, understanding how the healing power of music and art can help Veterans cope with different issues is even more valuable. That understanding and joy that Ramage, Gersey and Dougherty found through the Bedford VA program is what continues to drive them to make music and entertain their fellow Veterans.

While Ramage and Gersey do not work together at the Bedford VA anymore, they have continued their musical collaboration. Gersey said they jam weekly at Joe’s home and do occasional gigs in the Greater Boston area. They recently played at the Big Bluegrass Party in Maine and at the House of Brews in Stoughton.

The music program is just one of many recreation programs open to Veterans at Bedford VA. Veterans can take photography, learn how to paint in the Open Art Studio and try outdoor activities like golf and archery. To learn more about the Creative Arts and Recreation programs, visit theEdith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Guide to Services for Veterans and Families .

(Robert Cook, Public Affairs, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital)