Soldiers Speak at Beyond Baroque Friday

Stories from soldiers is what the Fourth Annual Returning Soldiers Speak: An Evening of Prose and Poetry is all about.

“We often hear the phrase ‘Support Our Troops’ but what actions do we take to support the soldiers and veterans of the U. S. Armed Forces?" said Leilani Squire, director of Returning Soldiers Speak. “When a soldier or veteran writes his or her story, it helps heal the deeps wounds of war, whichever war it may be. When the community listens to our soldiers and veterans stories, we begin to understand on a deeper level what it means to serve our country, what it means to go to war.

"My hope is that a bridge will be built between the civilians so that we can help our soldiers and veterans come home," she said. "Returning Soldiers Speak has no political agenda. We are not pro-war or anti-war. We are about helping our soldiers and veterans write and tell their story, without censoring their voices.” 

Set for Friday, this year's event features John Rixey Moore, actor, former Green Beret and Pulitzer Prize entry for "Hostage of Paradox"; Hugh Martin, Iraq combat Veteran and award-winning poet and author of "The Stick Soldiers"; Jeffrey Alan Rochlin, Vietnam veteran and poet; members of the creative writing classes of Wellness Works; alumni of the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital and other distinguished guests, said Squire.

A reception and book signing launch the evening at 7 p.m., with the book release of "Returning Soldiers Speak: An Anthology of Prose and Poetry by Soldiers and Veterans." The reading begins promptly at 8 p.m. 

No one will be turned away; the suggested donation is $10 per person. Proceeds will be donated to Wellness Works, Glendale, which engages the community in restoring a sense of wholeness of body and soul to veterans and their families, said Squire.

"Wellness Works believes that each of us has the capacity, the right and the responsibility to experience wellness, a state of being at ease in body, emotions, mind and spirit, no matter what the circumstances of our lives," said Squire.

The event will be held at Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd.