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For veterans, release and support through music at arts camp

LifeQuest tries to help veterans navigate the uncharted leap from the battlefield to civilian life through the arts, including music camp.

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Sargent, left, works with songwriters Darden Smith, right, Radney Foster and retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall, not pictured, on a song based on his military experiences during the LifeQuest music camp in Colorado Springs. After a rocket attack in Iraq shattered three bones in his spine, Sargent’s doctors told him he’d never walk again. He was able to regain mobility, and he wanted to write a song about.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sargent, left, works with Smith, center, and Foster, far right, on a song. Smith and Foster have been involved with the camp since its inception.The camp was hosted by LifeQuest Transitions, a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit.

Sargent, left, works with Smith, center, and Foster, far right, on a song. Smith and Foster have been involved with the camp since its inception.The camp was hosted by LifeQuest Transitions, a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Words from the song, 'It Is What It Is,' written by Sargent, Pearsall, Smith and Foster.

Words from the song, "It Is What It Is," written by Sargent, Pearsall, Smith and Foster.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Foster works on a song with U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Denning, retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Herman Herrera and Army Staff Sgt. John Wall. Denning wants one of the tunes, “Faded Glory,” to express the survivor’s guilt felt by anyone who has lived through war.

Foster works on a song with U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Denning, retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Herman Herrera and Army Staff Sgt. John Wall. Denning wants one of the tunes, “Faded Glory,” to express the survivor’s guilt felt by anyone who has lived through war.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sargent gives a thumbs-up after hearing a song played that he helped write. He was one of 11 veterans who gathered at a plush hotel in Colorado Springs, an arid mountain town near Fort Carson.

Sargent gives a thumbs-up after hearing a song played that he helped write. He was one of 11 veterans who gathered at a plush hotel in Colorado Springs, an arid mountain town near Fort Carson.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sargent, right, works with Smith, top. As Sargent let the words spill, Smith picked them up, assigned them a shape, a melody, bending them into rhyme.

Sargent, right, works with Smith, top. As Sargent let the words spill, Smith picked them up, assigned them a shape, a melody, bending them into rhyme.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sargent shows off a recent patriotic tattoo to Foster.

Sargent shows off a recent patriotic tattoo to Foster.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sargent receives encouragement from Smith, as he works on his song, along with Pearsall. The song “It Is What It Is,” is about a soldier finally embarking on the homeward journey that he’s long anticipated — but in a medevac helicopter.

Sargent receives encouragement from Smith, as he works on his song, along with Pearsall. The song “It Is What It Is,” is about a soldier finally embarking on the homeward journey that he’s long anticipated — but in a medevac helicopter.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Herrera, center, works on a song with Denning, right, and Wall and Foster, both not pictured.

Herrera, center, works on a song with Denning, right, and Wall and Foster, both not pictured.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sargent with Smith. “I’m healing myself through you guys,” Sargent says of working with him and Foster.

Sargent with Smith. “I’m healing myself through you guys,” Sargent says of working with him and Foster.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sargent gets some advice from Smith.

Sargent gets some advice from Smith.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Smith hugs Sargent.

Smith hugs Sargent.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Denning waits to participate in an ice-climbing trip as he takes part in the camp. He is stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Denning waits to participate in an ice-climbing trip as he takes part in the camp. He is stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Denning walks on a trail as he takes part in the ice-climbing trip.

Denning walks on a trail as he takes part in the ice-climbing trip.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Songwriters Georgia Middleman, left, Foster, Smith, and Jay Clementi play music during the camp.

Songwriters Georgia Middleman, left, Foster, Smith, and Jay Clementi play music during the camp.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Denning, left, and retired U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Daly, center, work on a song with songwriter Smith and retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall.

Denning, left, and retired U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Daly, center, work on a song with songwriter Smith and retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Denning and Smith.

Denning and Smith.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

“I got issues,” Denning says. He worked on a tune called “Faded Glory.”

“I got issues,” Denning says. He worked on a tune called “Faded Glory.”

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Clementi, left, Foster, and Middleman perform.

Clementi, left, Foster, and Middleman perform.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. John Buckley III cries with his daughter Brittany Buckley as they listen to music during the camp. Buckley helped write a song about his son, who is an Afghanistan veteran.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. John Buckley III cries with his daughter Brittany Buckley as they listen to music during the camp. Buckley helped write a song about his son, who is an Afghanistan veteran.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall, bottom left, hugs U.S. Air Force Reservist Katie Robinson as they listen to songwriters Clementi, Foster and Middleman.

Retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall, bottom left, hugs U.S. Air Force Reservist Katie Robinson as they listen to songwriters Clementi, Foster and Middleman.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Tyler Daly holds his daughter, Kaylee Daly, during a concert that concluded the LifeQuest Music Camp at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs. The camp brought four professional songwriters to work with current and retired military servicemen and servicewomen. Participants worked with the songwriters to craft songs that speak to their military experiences. Daly was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2008.

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Tyler Daly holds his daughter, Kaylee Daly, during a concert that concluded the LifeQuest Music Camp at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs. The camp brought four professional songwriters to work with current and retired military servicemen and servicewomen. Participants worked with the songwriters to craft songs that speak to their military experiences. Daly was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2008.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall smokes a cigar during the LifeQuest Music Camp at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs. Pearsall worked with Sargent, Smith and Foster on a song.

Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall smokes a cigar during the LifeQuest Music Camp at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs. Pearsall worked with Sargent, Smith and Foster on a song.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Songwriters, staff, volunteers, and participants of the LifeQuest Music Camp gather together prior to a concert that concluded the event at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs.

Songwriters, staff, volunteers, and participants of the LifeQuest Music Camp gather together prior to a concert that concluded the event at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

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