Local Army Veteran wins gold in National Veterans Creative Arts Competition
This was his second trip to the national festival, which was held in Indianapolis this year, and Kiser called the experience 'life-changing.'
He spent the week meeting hundreds of fellow veterans and jamming out with other musicians.
'Everybody left their egos at home,' said Kiser. 'Everybody was there on the same plateau. And everybody was there just to draw from everyone else.'
Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad honored as top EMS agency
Kiser started teaching himself to play the guitar when he was 13 and began playing with a gospel group at age 18.
'I had an unstable home life and the guitar was my refuge and my best friend,' he said. 'I would find that I would get lost in just trying to learn.'
When he joined the United States Army, he took his music with him.
'A lot of times, being homesick and being 12,000 miles away from home, my guitar was my sanctuary,' he said. 'And it was the place where I would sit on my bunk and just kind of lose myself.'
After a hunting accident left Kiser suffering from PTSD, music became a healing method.
'I knew about PTSD firsthand,' he said. 'I also knew what great therapy music was, and the guitar was for me.'
'I'm leaving here with my head held high': community celebration held for outgoing VMI superintendent
Now, he travels the country, performing alongside his wife to help other people discover the same therapy he found.
He also helps fellow Veterans suffering from PTSD and other service-related trauma by offering guitar instruction through a local nonprofit called 'Guitars for Vets.'
'I'm teaching them to play and teaching them the importance of music as an alternative to drugs or alcohol even,' he said. 'That it's still a great and a safe refuge.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Gary airport again staging site for Chicago Air and Water Show
Just as the Gary Air Show wrapped up its two-day run at Marquette Park, performers in the Chicago Air and Water Show will begin staging Saturday and Sunday at the Gary/Chicago International Airport for the Chicago show along the city's lakefront. Dozens of aviators and aerial acts will be participating, officials said Wednesday. Residents are invited to view planes taking off and landing from the airport's parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekend day. The viewing area will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a $20 parking fee per car. Food trucks will also be on site. 'We are proud to play a critical role in staging the aerial event for this weekend's Chicago Air and Water Show, which is one of the most exciting summer attractions in the county,' said GCIA Executive Director Dan Vicari. The 2025 Chicago Air and Water Show will feature the U.S. Army's parachute team, Golden Knights, as well as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Both also appeared at the Gary Air Show last weekend.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Veterans return to Scotland for ‘magical' visit to Edinburgh Tattoo
Three veterans who served in the Second World War have attended the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo during a trip to Scotland for a 'return to places of deep personal meaning' organised by a charity. Eugeniusz Niedzielski, 101, Don Turrell, 100, and Dorothea Barron, 100, attend the pageantry event at Edinburgh Castle during their trip to Scotland, organised by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. They described the Tattoo as 'the icing on the cake' after seeing the show on Tuesday evening. The visit was organised after Mr Turrell, who lives in Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, disclosed it was his 'final wish' to return to Scotland, where he had served in the Cameronians, and he vowed to come back next year. Polish veteran Mr Niedzielski was 'delighted' to watch the Band of the Polish Border Guard, according to organisers. He served with the 1st Armoured Polish Division, and during the visit spent time with the Polish Community in Edinburgh, and also attended a Catholic Mass and a memorial service to his fallen comrades. Ms Barron, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), returned to the site of her former barracks at Port Edgar, now a housing development and had a tour of Campbeltown, while Mr Turrell visited the Cameronians Museum and the Ben Nevis Distillery. He said the visit was 'unforgettable', and also described the Tattoo as 'magical'. Mr Turrell said: 'It was breathtaking – from the stirring opening to the grand finale. When the pipers emerged through the smoke, I thought the procession would never end – it was magical. 'It's been absolutely wonderful – and I'm coming back next year.' Colin Mills, chairman of the Taxi Charity, said: 'Since 1948, the Taxi Charity has supported thousands of veterans, arranging free trips to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration, as well as days out to museums, concerts, and social events across the UK. 'This trip to Scotland was inspired when Don quietly shared with me that his last wish was to return there. We were determined to make it happen – and in doing so, we've not only fulfilled Don's dream, but also the heartfelt wishes of Dorothea and Eugeniusz.' Dick Goodwin, vice president of the Taxi Charity, said 'This trip has given the veterans the chance to return to places of deep personal meaning from their wartime service – and they've enjoyed every moment.' He said the Tattoo was 'a celebration of skill, pageantry, and shared history'. Mr Goodwin said: 'It was a fantastic performance, from the hundreds of pipers, The Band of the Polish Border Guard, that delighted World War Two veteran Eugeniusz Niedzielski, to the precision and daring of the USAF Honor Guard Drill Team, spinning and throwing rifles with bayonets attached. 'The whole evening was a celebration of skill, pageantry, and shared history. 'This trip has given the veterans the chance to return to places of deep personal meaning from their wartime service – and they've enjoyed every moment.'
Hypebeast
4 days ago
- Hypebeast
Noah Centineo Cast as Young 'John Rambo' in New Prequel
Millennium Media is actively developing a prequel to the classicRambofranchise, titledJohn Rambo, with rising starNoah Centineoattached to play the iconic character made famous bySylvester Stallone. Jalmari Helander is set to direct the film with writing duo Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani attached for the script. The film will explore the origin story of John Rambo during his time as an elite Green Beret in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. This new take is a significant departure from the original films, as it aims to delve into the psychological and physical journey that shaped Rambo into the tormented veteran we first met in 1982'sFirst Blood. This casting has sparked considerable debate, as Centineo is best known for his roles in romantic comedies like theTo All the Boys I've Loved Beforeseries. However, he has recently demonstrated his versatility in more action-oriented projects like the Netflix seriesThe Recruitand the filmWarfare. WithRambo, Centineo joins a franchise that began with the 1982 film,First Bloodthat kicked off the five-film franchise. The storyline, based on David Morrell's 1972 novelFirst Blood. While the plot details are being kept under wraps, the film is expected to begin production in 2026. Sylvester Stallone is reportedly aware of the project but is not directly involved, which paves the way for a completely new vision for the franchise.
