The Healing Power of Guitars for Vets

Nov. 4, 2016

A lot of servicemen and women leaving the place they were stationed leave behind the things they’ve accumulated. In one marine’s case, it was a guitar, which he sold to David Kirvan, then on a tour of duty in Vietman, for $5. Little did that marine know, his simple exchange would inspire Kirvan to later lead a music program that would help countless other vets.

Guitars For Vets is a simple program that’s just as it sounds: Guitars are provided to veterans, along with lessons, to help them readjust to civilian life and cope with stresses incurred during military tours and battles. “The program was started by a guitar instructor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” said Kirvan, the coordinator for the Grand Rapids chapter, which is the only Michigan base for the organization. “He was working with a Vietnam vet and saw how playing the guitar and having music in his life helped the vet cope with the effects of having been in Vietnam.”

The nonprofit organization has over 50 chapters across the United States, all offering free lessons — and guitars — to any veteran who wants to participate. “Any vet can come in, get a loaner guitar, and start lessons,” Kirvan said. “After they complete 10 lessons, we give them a brand new guitar — although sometimes they end up wanting to just keep the guitar they learned on!” The loaner guitars are donated, much like the one that initially brought Kirvan into the program.The the new guitars are ordered from Kraft Music, a company that Guitars For Vets contracts with to receive substantial veterans-only discounts from Yamaha. “We hold fundraisers to help pay for the guitars, and the main headquarters also has big national donors,” Kirvan said.

Lessons at the Grand Rapids branch are held every Wednesday night, and they draw veterans from all over the region. Some vets drive an hour or more to attend, while others are local to the area veterans home where the lessons take place. A graduation certificate is awarded to each vet after he or she completes all 10 classes. “We often get guys who have already been through the program, stopping by just to sing a few songs and play guitar too,” Kirvan said. “So there’s a lot of camaraderie, and it’s good for vets to get to talk with other vets.”

The success rate is what keeps Kirvan and the whole organization going. To date, Guitars for Vets has fulfilled over 20,000 lessons and distributed over 2,000 guitars for free to military veterans.

Kirvan said most of the vets are visibly affected in a positive way as they learn to play music. “One guy from Battle Creek was in the war in Afghanistan. He was disabled and had a comfort dog he’d bring with him,” Kirvan said. “At one time, he was really knowledgeable about music, but the closed-head injuries he got had caused him to forget stuff. The classes helped him open up a lot, and he also recovered a lot of his original musical skill.”

Another story regards a vet who’d just returned from three military tours in the Middle East. “He’d been on the front lines, and he’s had some real issues since he’s been back,” said Kirvan. “Learning the guitar really, really helped him. He ended up going to a retreat out east with five other infantry guys, where they all met up with a songwriter and wrote a song about their military experiences. He’ll be performing that song at his guitar lessons graduation soon.”

For more information on the program, where to donate guitars or funds, and how to participate, visit guitars4vets.org.