Veterans take the stage at White Squirrel Brewery for ‘Patriot Stories’ music round
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – Music and microphones stood in for uniforms Friday night as veterans from across the region gathered at White Squirrel Brewery for “Patriot Stories,” a songwriting round that gave former service members a platform to share their experiences through original songs and spoken word.
The event, hosted by the national initiative Patriot Stories, focused on giving veterans a creative outlet to express the burdens and victories of their service. The intimate, music-first setting welcomed performers to step into the spotlight and share their truths through lyrics, melody and heartfelt storytelling.
Daniel O’Dell, a motivational speaker and veteran himself, performed a song titled “Never Alone,” written through a collaboration with Enlisted Songs. For O’Dell, the night was about more than music, it was about healing.
“You see a lot of veterans all around the world. They struggle with how to express what they’ve been through,” he said. “And this is one way that we can get that camaraderie, get that alternative therapy, get that counseling, that brotherhood that we ultimately miss.”
O’Dell was invited to the event by fellow veteran Dan Collins of Patriot Stories. He said he didn’t hesitate to show up once he understood the mission: bring veterans together, give them a voice, and remind them, and others, that they’re not alone.
“I said, absolutely, I’m going to be there for you. Because there’s another brother in arms,” O’Dell said. “We travel the world telling our story, singing our song to anybody and everybody.”
Accompanied by his award-winning service dog, Fluffy the Poodle, O’Dell closed the night with a message that struck a chord with the audience: “Everybody struggles, some people hide it better than others. But I ultimately want everybody to know that you are not alone with what you are going through.”
Organizers say they hope to bring the event back to Bowling Green soon and expand it to more venues across the state, ensuring that more veterans can find a microphone, and an audience, to help carry their stories forward.
