Warrior Songs - Mission Statement

Warrior Songs: Healing Through Music and the Creative Arts

Warrior Songs is a non-profit organization committed to facilitating veterans' healing through music and the creative arts.

Our mission is to help veterans more fully understand and integrate all aspects of their military experience by transforming their traumatic experiences and struggles into an art form which both inspires and is life-affirming, thus motivating their continued healing.

Jason Moon, President

Jason Moon is a folk/rock musician, songwriter, Army veteran, and advocate for veterans' issues. After returning from Iraq in 2004, Jason began his struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), almost losing his life to the disease in 2008. His album, "Trying to Find My Way Home," portrays his struggle to reclaim himself after returning from war. His music often gets through to veterans who suffer from PTSD when other methods have failed.

Jason travels the country to inform both civilians and veterans about PTSD and to raise money for veterans’ charities. After receiving an enormous response from the veterans' community and beyond, Jason created the non-profit Warrior Songs. The mission of Warrior Songs is to provide a forum for veterans' voices to be heard through music. Established songwriters collaborate with veterans, turning their poetry, prose, and journals into song. As he works to build his non-profit, Jason continues to travel the country playing for veterans and veteran healers.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Cardinal Stritch, Milwaukee. He served 10 years in the military as a General Construction Equipment Operator (62-J) in both the Wisconsin Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Jason served in Iraq from 2003-2004 with Charlie Company of the 724th Combat Engineers.

Lin Daley, Board Member

M.S. Educational Psychology (Ret)

Lin Daley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an M.S. in Educational Psychology and a B.S. in Social Work. Over the past four years, she has been actively involved with the Center for Creative Learning and Vets’ Journey Home. Throughout her career, Lin has utilized art as a method for personal and spiritual development, as well as a therapeutic tool for children and adults who have experienced trauma. Her belief that “Art is Medicine” is reflected in her use of song, poetry, painting, writing, and movement in her practice.

Lin has collaborated with numerous veteran healing organizations, including Soldier’s Heart, Marquette Listening Program, Veterans for Peace, Vet Art Project Santa Fe, and Warrior Summit (June 2010). She has also presented at the Department of Defense Conference (August 2010). Her extensive experience and dedication to using creative arts in healing make her a valuable member of the Warrior Songs board.

Lisa Johnson, Treasurer

Lisa Johnson holds a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture and a Master's in Life Sciences Communication from UW-Madison. She is a Horticulture Educator with Dane County UW-Extension, where she trains master gardener volunteers to provide gardening information to the public, among other activities. Lisa has a strong interest in developing therapeutic horticulture programs for veterans.

Lisa became involved with Warrior Songs’ Veggies for Vets initiative in 2015 and continued on the planning committee in 2016. She joined the Warrior Songs board as Secretary in 2016 and now serves as Treasurer. In addition to her work with Warrior Songs, Lisa volunteers with a local folk music co-operative, Literacy Network in Madison, and Angel’s Wish, a cat rescue non-profit.

More about Jason

Warrior Songs was founded by Jason Moon, singer/songwriter and Iraq War veteran. Jason served in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 as a General Construction Equipment Operator in a combat engineer battalion. He was honorably discharged from the Wisconsin Army National Guard in August 2004.

After returning home, Jason struggled with the challenge of reintegrating into civilian life. Prior to his deployment he had been a singer/songwriter, but, overcome with strong emotions about his combat experience, Jason was unable to finish a single song.

Jason became plagued with insomnia, depression, hyper-vigilance, nightmares, and numerous other symptoms. Troubled by the changes in himself, Jason sought treatment and was diagnosed with PTSD.

His road to healing was extremely difficult, culminating in hospitalization after a failed suicide attempt in 2008. After being released from the hospital, Jason vowed to no longer allow PTSD to control his life. He took a more vigorous approach in his healing and began connecting with other veterans who struggled with similar challenges.

In 2009, Jason was interviewed for the feature film documentary “On the Bridge”, and was asked to record an original song for the credits roll. The experience energized him to begin to write music in earnest again, and led to the release in 2010 of his album “Trying to Find My Way Home”, which chronicles Jason’s journey in overcoming the difficulties of living with PTSD.

Jason toured the country over the next year, meeting a huge number of veterans who testified to the power and positive effect of his music in their own journey to recovery. He learned he had the ability to turn his pain and struggles into something they could relate to – music.

Believing that other veterans could benefit from the cathartic process
of creating music, Jason took steps to form Warrior Songs, a non-profit organization bringing hope and healing to veterans through music!

WARRIOR SONGS ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY

Warrior Songs is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form.

This code of conduct applies to all Warrior Songs spaces and projects both online and off. Anyone who violates this code of conduct may be sanctioned or expelled from these spaces and/or have their contributions removed from a project at the discretion of the Warrior Songs.

Some Warrior Songs spaces, such as retreats, may have additional rules in place, which will be made clearly available to participants. Participants are responsible for knowing and abiding by these rules.

We're committed to helping you do your best work. Our promise is to champion diversity, build an inclusive culture and product, and do our part to create a more equitable world.

ON-PROFIT LEGAL INFORMATION

Warrior Songs Inc. was incorporated in the state of Wisconsin on December 29, 2011.

The board of directors was formed on March 1, 2012.

The founding documents were approved on March 3, 2012.

The IRS 1023 Application for Recognition of Exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code was approved December 19, 2013, retroactive to December, 2011.

As a 501(c)(3) charity, all donations made to Warrior Songs are tax-deductible to the full extent of the US law.

Testimonial

Anonymous Veteran

I’m not alone……this sums up only some of the impact Jason’s music on PTSD has had on me. For many years, I was afraid to tell anyone about my problems as I thought they would not understand me and see me differently. Thanks to Jason’s music, I was able to reenter treatment and get the help I needed for so long for my PTSD. Ashamed no more, I am living a more confident and fulfilling life and I have to thank Jason for his music that gave me the courage once more to fight for my freedom.

Veterans Sanctuary Allentown, PA