Unlike his father and brothers, Vietnam Veteran David Jones was never drawn to the harmonica or to music. So when Jones\u2019s father passed away and his mother found his father\u2019s harmonica in a hope chest and gave it to Jones, he didn\u2019t know what to feel.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was his,\u201d Jones\u2019 mother said to him softly.<\/p>\n
Not knowing what to do with it, he tucked it away. But the instrument stayed in the back of his mind.<\/p>\n
Years passed until, one day, Jones took the harmonica back out. Its cold metal was a strange comfort in his hand. He fumbled with it, blowing hesitant puffs of air, producing more wheezes than music.<\/p>\n
He started \u201cmessing around,\u201d as he called it, studying online tutorials and ordering books. He slowly, painstakingly began coaxing melodies from the instrument. He became a collector, accumulating a small arsenal of harmonicas, each with its own voice. He taught himself to play, note by note.<\/p>\n
Then in 2003, Jones\u2019s eyesight began to fail\u2014first in his right eye, then the left. His world became blurry and distorted.<\/p>\n
The darkness threatened to consume him.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a person that\u2019s visually impaired or blind, one thing that we have the most problem with is finding something to do,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n
Jones connected with the Blind Veterans Association, where he started sharing stories and experiences and discovered a camaraderie that eased the burden of his vision loss.<\/p>\n
The Association began incorporating arts and crafts into its programs, and that\u2019s when Jones realized a new purpose. He turned to the harmonica.<\/p>\n
Jones started teaching harmonica lessons at VA\u2019s Blind Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham, Alabama. He found joy in guiding his students\u2019 fingers, listening to their tentative notes evolve into recognizable tunes. Like him, they were finding a way to express themselves when words failed.<\/p>\n
Then VA\u2019s National Veterans Creative Arts Festival <\/a>caught Jones\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n VA medical facilities use creative arts to help Veterans with their rehabilitation goals. The annual competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through therapy and showcases Veterans\u2019 work in creative writing, dance, drama and music.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard about this art festival, and I said, \u2018Well, I\u2019d like to try\u2026\u2019\u201d Jones said with a smile.<\/p>\n He poured his heart into his performance, stringing together a medley of songs. He played in memory of his father, whose melodies still played in his head. He played for his brothers, with whom he now shares a musical bond he didn\u2019t have growing up. He played for fellow Veterans, who also struggle.<\/p>\n But most of all, he played for himself, using music to tell his story of loss, but also of connection.<\/p>\n To learn more, visit National Veterans Creative Arts Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n
![<\/a>One of Jones\u2019s instruments <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nYears passed until, one day, Jones took the harmonica back out. Its cold metal was a strange comfort in his hand. He fumbled with it, blowing hesitant puffs of air, producing more wheezes than music.<\/p>\nHe started \u201cmessing around,\u201d as he called it, studying online tutorials and ordering books. He slowly, painstakingly began coaxing melodies from the instrument. He became a collector, accumulating a small arsenal of harmonicas, each with its own voice. He taught himself to play, note by note.<\/p>\nFinding something to do<\/h2>\nThen in 2003, Jones\u2019s eyesight began to fail\u2014first in his right eye, then the left. His world became blurry and distorted.<\/p>\nThe darkness threatened to consume him.<\/p>\n\u201cFor a person that\u2019s visually impaired or blind, one thing that we have the most problem with is finding something to do,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\nJones connected with the Blind Veterans Association, where he started sharing stories and experiences and discovered a camaraderie that eased the burden of his vision loss.<\/p>\nThe Association began incorporating arts and crafts into its programs, and that\u2019s when Jones realized a new purpose. He turned to the harmonica.<\/p>\nJones started teaching harmonica lessons at VA\u2019s Blind Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham, Alabama. He found joy in guiding his students\u2019 fingers, listening to their tentative notes evolve into recognizable tunes. Like him, they were finding a way to express themselves when words failed.<\/p>\nVA\u2019s Creative Arts Festival<\/h2>\nThen VA\u2019s National Veterans Creative Arts Festival <\/a>caught Jones\u2019 attention.<\/p>\nVA medical facilities use creative arts to help Veterans with their rehabilitation goals. The annual competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through therapy and showcases Veterans\u2019 work in creative writing, dance, drama and music.<\/p>\n\u201cI heard about this art festival, and I said, \u2018Well, I\u2019d like to try\u2026\u2019\u201d Jones said with a smile.<\/p>\nHe poured his heart into his performance, stringing together a medley of songs. He played in memory of his father, whose melodies still played in his head. He played for his brothers, with whom he now shares a musical bond he didn\u2019t have growing up. He played for fellow Veterans, who also struggle.<\/p>\nBut most of all, he played for himself, using music to tell his story of loss, but also of connection.<\/p>\nTo learn more, visit National Veterans Creative Arts Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nThis article was originally published on VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System site<\/a> and has been edited for style and clarity.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Unlike his father and brothers, Vietnam Veteran David Jones was never drawn to the harmonica or to music. So when Jones\u2019s father passed away and his mother found his father\u2019s harmonica in a hope chest and gave it to Jones, he didn\u2019t know what to feel. \u201cIt was his,\u201d Jones\u2019 mother said to him softly. 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