Band members offer a voice for fellow vets' feelings through song
While some folks know what their life's work is from the start, some never know and, then, others realize their mission in life at mid-life.
Joe Klass, 55, a composer, guitarist and lead vocalist with the band "Voice of Veterans," found his niche three years ago when he met Gregg Rodriquez who volunteered his musical talents to entertain veterans hospitalized at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Chicago.
Klass, himself in that center to combat post-traumatic stress disorder, joined Rodriquez to form "Voice," which added Jim Snow, Carl Petersen and manager Sam Radatz. An Ohio native and resident of Schaumburg, Klass served in Vietnam in the 101st Airborne Division in a Medivac Unit.
"Our task was to land in the jungle to retrieve wounded solders," Klass said. "Playing for veterans is healing for them and us. As therapy, there is a certain calmness afforded; I truly believe this is what God wants me to do now."
Using an example of how folks mistreated returning vets, Klass recalls how Petersen, a recipient of a Purple Heart, received a slap in the face. The job market wasn't open to vets, according to the musicians, because "they thought we were drug addicts. It was hard to get hired," he said.
Featured on Harry Porterfield's "Someone You Should Know," and on Kup's Purple Heart Cruise with David Kupcinet, Klass related that the group's mission is to entertain while educating folks about "our troops, their bravery and the hardships they face during and after combat."
The group, which has a CD titled "Welcome Home," recently took four first-place awards at the regional competition of the National Veterans' Administration Creative Arts Fest. They won in the original song category for Klass' "Welcome Home," in patriotic for "Soldiers of the Sand," in blues and country for "You Loving Me" and for best video.
Voice of Veterans will make an appearance during the Memorial Day "Cost of Freedom Tribute" that features the Vietnam Traveling Wall on display May 23 to 26 at Alexian Field in Schaumburg. Both Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg cooperate each year in offering gratitude to past and current military and public safety officers but this year organizers under Frank Donahue's leadership plan an extravaganza.
Festivities begin at 10 a.m. Friday, May 23 with Wayne Messmer's singing the national anthem. Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Allan Lynch will give an address at 7 p.m. that evening. Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth takes the dais at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, May 24, after which guests participate in a candle lighted walk-by of the memorial.
Sunday's events will feature a 3 p.m. patriotic service with the Revs. David Hudak and Bill Cate presiding. Vietnam Special Forces Chaplain the Rev. James Behnke will speak. Voice performs at 4 p.m. The Memorial Day tribute begins at 11 a.m. with guest speaker Don Allen, co-owner of the "Cost of Freedom" replica. Voice performs around 6:45 p.m.
Satisfaction is a reward for Voice of Veterans, according to Klass.
"Every time we play for the vets it's healing for them and for us," he said. "Songs communicate our feelings."