Greg Lato

As a veteran, I have learned how important it is for people from many different backgrounds to come together in a meaningful and positive way. I have listened to the stories of military families in order to make their voices heard through song. There are a lot of themes on the album that are central to the military family experience. Moving from place to place, meeting new friends, constantly being the new kid, dealing with a spouse and parent that is away, and the wonderful support system that they encounter wherever they go were some of the topics that were discussed and put into song. I believe that it has helped all the families that I met with tremendously to share their stories and make them feel like they are not alone in their experiences. The final song on the album ‘To Be a Veteran’ teaches kids about the importance of respecting and thanking veterans for all they have done for the country. It also helps them to understand how the transition from military to civilian life may not be smooth, and how care and compassion goes a long way to helping them navigate through the change. Also, conducting an extended songwriting workshop with military kids has helped them to bond with each other and amplify their voices in their community and beyond. Although the project will be released in May 2025, it is already starting to create a buzz and make an impact through several preview videos that have been released on social media. Many military family organizations are sharing the project as special for the military family community. As the project rolls out, it will continue to make an impact on the world by spreading awareness about what they go through and endure to serve this country.