Veterans turn service stories into songs at Straz Center

Tanya Lea stands ready to share her life story with a professional songwriter. The veteran, who worked in cryptologic intelligence, was selected for Operation Song at the Straz Center in Tampa. The program pairs military personnel with composers to create original music based on personal experiences.

The culminating performance is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. in the TECO Theater. Admission is free, but registration is required. The event will feature songs exploring themes of service, sacrifice, family, and resilience from Tampa Bay’s military community.

Lea described her path into the program as a convergence of her past. She began as a radio operator in the military before moving into intelligence work. After leaving service, she studied mind-body medicine to help others dealing with trauma. She said she never lost her passion for theater, which dates back to a 5-year-old visit to New York City to see 'Peter Pan.'

"I am beyond excited," Lea said. "I am so grateful that I was selected because I know that there were a lot of applicants." She noted that the process of turning her specific experiences into music allows her to bring together different chapters of her life.

Operation Song was founded by Nashville songwriter Bob Regan. Regan started holding weekly sessions in 2012 at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The program has since expanded to weekend retreats in states including Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, New York, Texas, Washington, and North Carolina. The organization has written more than 2,000 songs with veterans ranging from World War II veterans to active-duty members.

Fred Johnson, a community engagement specialist at the Straz Center, said the venue has supported veterans through arts initiatives since 2017. Johnson noted that Operation Song is a newer local addition. He explained that the goal is to create a space where veterans feel safe to be vulnerable. "You ask somebody to step forward and risk their life," Johnson said. "They kind of train that out of you."

Lea, who identified as a military trauma survivor, said the program helps articulate feelings that are difficult to express in conversation. She described the challenge of transitioning from a high state of vigilance to civilian life. "They teach us how to ramp up," she said. "They don't really teach us how to ramp down." She believes healing can come through art, song, and authentic conversation in a safe place.

The Straz Center has worked to bridge the gap between military culture and the arts. Johnson recalled explaining dance to veterans by comparing choreography to close-order drill. That translation helped the group understand the connection. Johnson said the programs challenge the notion that military strength and artistic vulnerability are mutually exclusive.