Project D.R.E.W. Connects Veterans and Songwriters for Therapeutic Music Creation in Cleveland
Project D.R.E.W., an initiative founded by Avon Lake resident Marilyn Zeidner, is pairing military veterans with musicians to help them process and share their military service stories through song. The program, named in honor of U.S. Army veteran Drew Ferguson who died by suicide, aims to provide a therapeutic outlet for veterans struggling with the trauma of war and reintegration into civilian life. During two-day weekend events, veterans meet individually with a musician to recount their experiences. The musician then has one day to compose lyrics and music based on the veteran's narrative. These songs are performed at a private concert for the veteran and their loved ones, with recordings later shared on Project D.R.E.W.'s website. Zeidner notes that many veterans find it easier to open up to a stranger, like a songwriter, about their experiences than to family members, facilitating a release of emotions and stories that have often been suppressed for decades.
