Service, Sacrifice & Stories Through Poetry and Song

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This week on Veterans Radio, host Dale Throneberry explores two different ways of telling the stories of service and sacrifice—through poetry and music.

Major Jacob P. Kelly, an active-duty U.S. Army officer and author of The Spurs of Service, shares the deeply personal experiences behind his collection of cowboy poetry. From leaving loved ones behind and deploying overseas to grieving the loss of fellow soldiers and finding a way forward after coming home, Jake reflects on the quieter side of military service and how it has shaped his identity, relationships, family, and faith.

Then, Dale welcomes songwriter Scott Johnson, the creator behind Southern Grit Revival, an independent country-rock and Americana project. Scott discusses the inspiration behind “We Stand,” a patriotic song honoring service, sacrifice, the American flag, and the men and women who have given so much for their country.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER

✓ How Major Jacob P. Kelly turned his experiences with military service, deployment, loss, and homecoming into cowboy poetry ✓ The loss of two fellow soldiers in Afghanistan that shaped Jacob’s perspective on grief, remembrance, identity, and faith ✓ Why some of the most difficult parts of military service can continue long after a service member returns home ✓ How Scott Johnson and Southern Grit Revival use country-rock music and “We Stand” to honor service, sacrifice, patriotism, and remembrance ✓ Third-party trauma, boundaries, and what it actually takes to walk away from someone else’s worst day.

Major Jacob P. "Jake" Kelly

Active-Duty U.S. Army Officer & Author

Active-duty U.S. Army officer and author of The Spurs of Service, a collection of cowboy poetry following a soldier’s journey from joining the Army and leaving loved ones behind through deployment, loss, and the transition home. Dedicated to two soldiers lost in Afghanistan, the book provided Jake with a way to process grief and examine how military service shaped his identity, relationships, and faith. His family later faced another profound challenge when his daughter underwent brain surgery for severe epilepsy, deepening his reflections on fear, helplessness, control, and dependence upon his Christian faith. Through his writing, Jake shares a personal perspective on the quieter struggles, relationships, and experiences that can define a life of service.

Scott Johnson

Songw