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Salt Lake VA Rappers take Vegas by Storm!
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
Salt Lake VA Rappers take Vegas by Storm!
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The SLC VA Rappers (l to r) Maria Fruin, OEF/OIF Program Manager; Stacey Shaffer, Nurse Practitioner; Jill Atwood, Desert Storm Veteran and Public Affairs Officer and Tanya Miller, PTSD Psychologist. Front man: Damien Holmes, Iraqi Veteran aka “Da Hit Man”. |
Appropriately adorned with VA “Bling”, O. B. R. and the “SLiC” Rappers made their debut performance at the Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom "Evolving Paradigms II" Conference on September 22, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The performance brought over three thousand people to their feet, not because four professional women decided to step out of their comfort zone, but because our front man, OIF veteran and rapper “Damien Holmes”, delivered a powerful message.
The lyrics detail a returning veteran’s struggle transitioning back into normal life and the services the VA provides to help overcome those struggles. The VA Salt Lake City Health Care System strongly believes this message needs to have a national stage in this form and we are excited to connect with our younger veterans in a way they can relate to. We are no longer just your father’s VA.
Earlier this year, the VASLCHCS OEF/OIF team “worked it out” with the Public Affairs Office and produced this OEF/OIF rap song as a unique way to touch our newest veterans. Our goal is to get the rap produced as a music video for a national public service announcement.
A brainchild of our OEF/OIF Program Manager Maria Fruin, she got an inspiration one day and jotted down some lyrics. The lyrics were then tweaked by our veteran and star rapper Damien Holmes and Public Affairs Officer Jill Atwood. The end result is what you are about to hear. (Total play time is 2:46) (Download the Transcript)
Damien and the “SLiC” Rappers present: THE VA RAP
Lyrics by: Maria Fruin, Damien Holmes and Jill Atwood
Back-up Vocals: Stacey Shaffer, Maria Fruin, Damien Holmes, “aka, Da Hit Man” and Jill Atwood
Producer: Adam Williams, aka “Big Chief”
Song Lyrics:
"The VA is adjusting to the changing face of our newest veterans. Men and women back from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan face new physical and emotional challenges. We appreciate your sacrifice. We are here for you. We thank you."
(Chorus)
You say you’re OEF and OIF
I say come to the place where the care’s the best
It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A. It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A.
You say you’re OEF and OIF
I say come to the place where the care’s the best
It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A. It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A.(Verses)
I was blown up good and my ears were ringing
Couldn’t remember stuff since my head was spinning
Hooked up with the VA people
My brain’s working better from the tips they were givingMan I saw some stuff that you wouldn’t believe
I couldn’t sleep at night from all the bad dreams
My boys from the clinic helped me figure out things
I was up every night going through thingsI was gone for a year and missed a whole lot
Kids and spouse at home while I slept on a cot
When I came back I didn’t fit in
My VA people helped us all ease in
With Iraq Vets, Gulf War Vets, Vietnam Vets with medals on their chest
The VA always rise above the rest
Come to the spot where the care’s the best!
C’mon!(Chorus)
You say you’re OEF and OIF
I say come to the place where the care’s the best
It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A. It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A.
You say you’re OEF and OIF
I say come to the place where the care’s the best
It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A. It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A.Being overseas break us down to our knees
But the VA came and lifts us back up with ease
So much to live for, so much to care for, you never see the VA close down the doors
InstaCare on every single floor
Services they provide and give you more
It’s the VA… it’s the V to the A
Check out all the spots in the U.S. of A!
C’mon(Chorus)
You say you’re OEF and OIF
I say come to the place where the care’s the best
It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A. It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A.
You say you’re OEF and OIF
I say come to the place where the care’s the best
It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A. It’s the VA. It’s the V to the A.To the VA.. VA
The care at the VA.. VACome to the VA.. the VA
Come to the VA...
