Life After Retirement
Kevin Dougherty - Retired from the Navy after 22 years as a Navy Seabee.
“I missed my fellow brothers and sisters from the Navy and the camaraderie we shared.” Dougherty retired from the Navy after 22 years as a Navy Seabee – referred to as Mobile Construction Battalions. His last tour was aboard the U.S.S. Constitution docked in Boston, Mass. Now employed by VA’s Voluntary Service at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital located in Bedford, Mass., Dougherty has found a new bond and enjoyment of life as he shares his songs and music with Veterans through Bedford’s Recre¬ation Therapy Program.
Dougherty will be performing one of his original songs “Vet¬eran of Yesteryear” at Cutler Majestic Theater on October 14. His inspiration for writing the song came from emotionally connecting with one of the Veterans during therapy. This WWII Veteran had been shot down over Germany and held prisoner of war for 18 months. Healing has its own time frame, and for these Veterans the timing was perfect in helping each other through song.
The day before Dougherty retired from the military, he was given the opportunity to sing the national anthem and “God Bless America,” at Fenway Park in his dress whites at a Boston Red Sox’s game. It was a day he will never forget. However, he looks forward to singing at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival before his fellow Veterans. Life after retirement…is good.
By Angela TaylorVisual Information SpecialistIndianapolis VA Medical Center
