SHOWING HEART
Benefit for veterans group shows city’s generosity
TROY, N.Y. » Three Troybased musicians with deep feelings for military veterans used their musical skills and easy- going personalities Saturday to publicize and seek donations for veterans’ support group, Soldier’s Heart.
Playing catchy melodies from familiar tunes on a busy city sidewalk, piano player John Ostwald and guitarists Mark Emanatian and Tom Dolan entertained anyone who walked by and stopped to listen.
In between songs the three men would discuss what Soldier’s Heart provides veterans. If, after hearing about the organization, the visitor tossed a few bucks in the hat or the guitar case, so much the better.
“This is a benefit but it’s a sidewalk benefit,” Ostwald said from a shaded spot outside the Beat Shop, 197 River Street. “This is more about getting word out as to what the organization does than making a lot of money.”
The three musicians were billed as a duo, and a piano soloist. Emanatian and Dolan performed as the Dolan Brothers and set up their chairs and amps about 50 yards up the sidewalk from Ostwald. Both sets of entertainers had Beat Shop owner and longtime musician Jimmy Bar-
“I think the people in Troy are the most generous people you’re going to find around here. They’ll give you the last dollar they don’t have.” — Beat Shop owner and longtime musician Jimmy Barrett
rett to thank for the opportunity to publicize Soldier’s Heart.
“I think the people in Troy are the most generous people you’re going to find around here,” Barrett said. “They’ll give you the last dollar they don’t have. It’s a very kind-hearted community.”
Barrett said he and some of the other business owners on the street try and have some kind of sidewalk benefit every two weeks.
“My mother was a musician who died young,” Barrett said. “Rather than get angry about how life has treated me I decided to do things to benefit organizations that help people, like the fire departments, emergency corps, food banks, and the veterans.”
Soldier’s Heart is a nonprofit that was established in 2006. It holds retreats and trainings and has established a national network of trainers and leaders. The four day retreats it holds are for veterans and their families. In the Capital Region they’ve gone to Lake George and Saratoga Springs.
The organization also brings Vietnam Veterans back to Vietnam as a way to reduce or eliminate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Ostwald is a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Navy on Guantanamo Naval Base. As a veteran, a retired professor of psychology from Hudson Valley Community College, and a member of the Soldier’s Heart Board of Directors, he has made the trip to Vietnam with the veterans.
Working alongside Ostwald on Saturday behind the information table was his mother Josephine Rea, 93. Rea served in the Women’s Army Corps, the WACs,
in World War II as a military mounted policewoman in Arlington, VA. Along with the information about Soldier’s Heart was a framed photograph of Rea in her uniform.
The table of photographs and veterans information drew the interest of Terron Jones and his fiancé Snowtika Glover. The couple conversed with Ostwald and Jones quickly dropped some bills into the hat.
“Once people serve (in the military), you’re always committed,” Jones said. “I get it. Everybody needs a little help now and then.”
Up the street, Emanatian and Dolan drew people with soft rock guitar tunes. The two men met in ninth grade in the early 1970s. They’ve been playing in bands ever since.
Though both were too young to be drafted into the Vietnam War, they have deep feelings for veterans. Between them they have family members who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
“We play a lot of benefits for veterans but this is the first time we’ve played for Soldier’s Heart,” Emanatian said. “Veterans are close to our hearts. When you send young men and women off to far off places you should take care of them when they return.”
Soldier’s Heart is located at 500 Federal Street, Suite 303, Troy. The organization’s email address is info@ soldiers heart. net. Their website can be reached at: www.soldiersheart.net. The group has a Facebook page also.