AWENDAW, S.C. — A national nonprofit organization called Operation Song is making a meaningful impact in South Carolina by using music and songwriting to support veterans in their healing journey. The organization recently held its first event in the state, bringing together professional songwriters from Nashville and local veterans from the Charleston area. The goal was to help veterans express their personal stories of military service by creating original songs that capture their experiences and emotions.
The event, titled ‘Salute to South Carolina Veterans,’ took place at The Back Barn at Bedaw Farms in Awendaw. It featured three Nashville songwriters paired with three veterans, who collaborated to transform their memories and feelings into music. These new songs were then performed live for the first time during the event, providing a powerful and emotional experience for participants and the audience alike.
Curtis McGinnis, an event organizer and veteran himself, explained that although this was Operation Song’s first community event in South Carolina, the organization has been hosting similar programs across the country for years. He emphasized how these events honor military service, preserve veterans’ stories, and create lasting connections between veterans and their communities. McGinnis shared his own experience as a participant in a past event, describing how writing a song titled ‘It Feels Like Today’ helped him appreciate the importance of expressing love and gratitude while there is still time.
One of this year’s participants, Cody McGinnis, who served four years and completed 147 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, described songwriting as a therapeutic way to address moral injury. As a psychologist, he recognized the healing potential of turning complex emotions into lyrics. “It was definitely an emotional and cathartic experience,” he said. “I found a lot of therapeutic value in it.”
Brooke Jackson Kahn, another local veteran involved in the event, chose to focus her song on the positive aspects of military service and returning home. She expressed how joining the Army was one of her best decisions and wanted to highlight themes of camaraderie and brotherhood through her music.
Operation Song plans to continue its outreach throughout the year by working with more than 300 veterans and military family members nationwide. To date, the organization has served over 4,000 veterans and families, resulting in more than 2,700 original songs that preserve their unique stories.
Music serves as an important outlet for many veterans seeking ways to cope with their experiences. As Curtis McGinnis noted, whether it is reading, fitness, fishing, or music, everyone needs an outlet. For him and many others, music provides a magical opportunity to express themselves through lyrics and melodies that capture moments too difficult to share otherwise.
By combining songwriting with storytelling, Operation Song offers veterans a creative path to healing that honors their service while fostering emotional recovery. Their innovative approach highlights the power of songs about healing as a tool for personal growth and community connection.
