We like to share other veteran storytelling projects conducted across the nation, and recently Vietnam Veteran Tom Morrissey passed along a link to the Veteran Voices is put on by the Providence Clemente Veterans Initiative’s 4th Annual Veteran Voices event, held on November 13, 2024, at the RISD Museum’s Metcalf Auditorium. Veterans share stories, poems, and songs that reflect on their experiences with military service and readjustment to civilian life and brings together veterans, students, and community members to honor Veterans Day through personal storytelling and reflection. The program provides a platform for veterans to share their diverse military experiences and explore the lasting impact of service.
The event opens with welcoming remarks that highlight the importance of giving veterans a voice and creating spaces where their stories are heard and honored. Throughout the evening, veterans from various branches of the military—spanning different eras of service—take the stage to recount their personal journeys. These stories cover a wide range of topics, including the challenges of deployment, the transition to civilian life, reflections on combat and camaraderie, and the enduring bonds formed in service.
A key theme of the evening is the power of storytelling as a tool for healing and understanding. Many speakers emphasize how sharing their experiences not only preserves history but also helps bridge the gap between military and civilian communities. Some stories are deeply emotional, touching on loss, trauma, and sacrifice, while others highlight moments of resilience, humor, and hope.
If you want to dip in with one story, check out Tom Morrissey’s 11-min account, which begins here.
Tom Morrissey served as a warrant officer and helicopter pilot with the 117th Assault Helicopter Company. Morrissey reflects on his military service with a mix of philosophical insight, personal storytelling, and humor. He opens by thanking the event organizers for involving veterans in the arts, highlighting the importance of creative expression for those who served. Morrissey sets a contemplative tone, quoting authors and offering thoughts on human nature, war, and the enduring struggle between ideals and reality. He emphasizes the psychological burdens veterans carry, referencing the high rates of veteran suicide and drawing parallels between ancient warriors and modern service members.
The event also features visual and multimedia elements, with photographs and videos that add depth and context to the veterans’ narratives. Audience members—many of them students and local residents—engage with the speakers, fostering dialogue about military service and its lasting effects.
Watch the full event on YouTube below.
