This post is sponsored by The Folk Project.
****Morristown Green readers get a 25% discount on tickets with the code MGREEN. Enter MGREEN on the Billing Details screen, click Apply, then enter your payment to see the discount. Purchase tickets here****
By Olga Alvarez
VET SONGS is a special benefit concert that honors veterans in an evening sure to touch your heart and create memories you will long cherish. Nine veterans have shared their stories with nine musicians, who have crafted those stories into songs each will perform at the Troubadour Concert Series this Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Morris Township.
Proceeds will benefit the Disabled Veterans of America, which empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.
Featured artist Theresa Sareo is an accomplished singer-songwriter and engaging public speaker who, following a life-changing event, made it her life’s work to advocate for recovering U.S. veterans.
The night will feature performances by top New Jersey songwriters: Barret Ward, Michael Arthur, Tina Ross, Andrew Dunn, Sharon Klein, Dave Kleiner, and Christine DeLeon. Nationally recognized artists Sam Robbins and Jesse Ruben will participate by video. The songwriters will perform the songs they wrote, inspired by the veterans whose story they were entrusted to sing.
“Veterans have important stories to tell,” says program director Mark Schaffer. “Music elevates the written word emotionally and immeasurably, giving these soldiers a new means of expression—and giving us a new way to hear and understand their experiences.”
Theresa Sareo’s life seemed derailed at a young age. How she rebounded from tragedy to find her life’s mission is extraordinary.
“If anyone would have told me when I was lying in my hospital bed that my fate was to take me around the world performing for our wounded military, I never would’ve believed it,” said Theresa.
While Americans were still recovering from the shock of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Theresa was struck by an impaired driver, resulting in her losing a hip joint and a leg.
During the two months she spent in the hospital, her family and friends paraded visitors who brought hope: Other amputees, some in the entertainment business.
“That changed everything for me,” said Theresa. “They became my life raft, human beacons of hope, not only to go on in life and be successful, but to keep doing what I love.”
Theresa used her talent and experience to help others heal. She trained with the Amputee Coalition of America and became the first appointed volunteer in Bellevue Hospital’s Psychiatric Social Work, Art Therapy, and Trauma/SICU Departments. She regularly performs at Walter Reed Hospital, other military events, and New York City Police and Fire Department events. Theresa also became a public speaker.
The experience also led her to write Through a Soldier’s Eyes and other songs of healing.
Video: “Through a Soldier’s Eyes,” by Theresa Sareo:
“As a songwriter and singer, I had always known the power of words, especially when put to music,” said Theresa. “I had no idea the intense healing ability of music and lyrics until I used them for my own.”
Barrett Ward, one of the talented songwriters performing on Friday, is an Iraq War veteran. He understands how music can help those who have served in combat. He believes songs help veterans process their experiences.
“I think that they’re opting in to give that story as a form of catharsis, an emotional release,” said Barrett.
“Taking a true story like that and then processing it via art is just a really spectacular way to have some emotional release from a moment and solidify it beautifully; one they want to have remembered.”
VET SONGS will take the stage on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., at the Morristown Universalist Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township. Tickets are $20, and kids under 12 get in free. Morristown Green readers can save 25% on tickets when purchasing here. If you can’t make it in person, you can watch the concert from home with a livestream for just $10. Plenty of free parking. The Folk Project sponsors Troubadour Concerts.
COMING IN SEPTEMBER:
Get ready for an electrifying lineup! On Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, the Troubadour Concert Series presents two fan favorites: The magnetic singer-songwriter Greg Greenway and the bold, genre-defying Jenna Nichols. Their performances will ignite the stage and leave you buzzing with excitement.
On Friday, Sept. 11, the much-anticipated Open Stage bursts back onto the scene after a summer break. This beloved showcase spotlights some of the region’s most thrilling talent, giving performers a video keepsake of their moment in the spotlight.
Circle Friday, Sept. 18, on your calendar for an unforgettable night! Legendary blues guitarist Rory Block and award-winning Americana singer-songwriter Kevin Neidig will deliver powerhouse performances and create a musical experience you simply can’t miss.
To learn more about the Troubadour Concert Series or other Folk Project events, or to buy tickets online, please visit our website.
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