Under the bright lights on stage in the EMU Ballroom, 10 performers stand before a crowd and share true stories from their recent pasts, revealing parts of their lives that may have otherwise remained untold.
In its second year performing “Telling,” the Veterans and Family Student Association collaborated with current veterans, former students and those affected by having a friend or family member serve in the line of duty to raise awareness and educate the community about what it’s really like to serve.
Former VFSA co-director Shane Addis said the play, which is considered a type of “witness theater,” takes veterans’ stories and transforms them into scripts.
“These are real stories based upon actual experiences,” Addis said.
The group provides support for veterans, their spouses, siblings and friends. Open to anyone, VFSA hopes to offer a pair of ears to those affected by experiences with war.
Addis, who served in Iraq for about nine months in 2005, said it’s important for people to recognize that a lot of combat stereotypes are gross generalizations.
“People think we’re a bunch of jarheaded, rugged robots,” Addis said. “And it’s important to break those stereotypes and build a dialogue between the community and us.”
Addis emphasized that whether a man or woman has served in combat, the armed forces or a war from a different generational time period, he or she still has important stories to tell.
Before Sunday’s play, “Telling” director John Schmor told the performers – mostly veterans – to keep their energy high and their pace moving forward. After a successful first night at Veterans’ Memorial Hall in downtown Eugene on Saturday, Schmor encouraged his cast to go out with a bang. Group member Sean Jin estimated that opening night’s audience exceeded 200 people.
Jin joined VFSA nearly two years ago when his friend, who served in the Army ROTC, asked Jin to join.
“I felt like I could help,” Jin said. “My friend’s now commissioned and back in the line of duty.”
Jin said he feels it’s crucial for people to realize that they don’t necessarily know what it’s like overseas just because they watch the nightly news. When some of the script changed during Saturday night’s play, Jin listened in awe as University student and veteran Jeremy Coombs opened up more than he had before. Coombs shared with the audience his feelings of intense guilt regarding his decision not to redeploy with his unit. Jin said Coombs chose to go off the script, adding an unparalleled sense of emotion to the performance. As Coombs let his feelings pour out, Jin said he nearly cried on stage listening to his confessions of guilt.
With approximately 70 members in VFSA, Jin said the group represents 150 to 200 veteran students on campus.
“We know because we look at who’s receiving GI benefits through the Registrar’s office.”
Addis said he hopes people aren’t intimidated by the VFSA and he encourages students to learn more about the organization. He emphasized the nonpartisan aspect of the group, adding that most of the members have different experiences.
“People think if they don’t have experience with the military, it doesn’t affect them,” Jin said. “But it does. These people swore to defend the United States Constitution. They took an oath to protect us. Because of that, it affects us all.”
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‘Telling’ tales of the front lines
Daily Emerald
November 2, 2008
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