Cooperative Living January 2017 - 17

CoverStory | Story and Photos by Laura Emery, Field Editor
Every veteran has a story ... and when warriors write,
the effect is profound, poignant and provocative
I
s the pen, as the timeless adage insists,
mightier than the sword? For a group
of Virginia's military veterans learning
to write creatively, it just might be.
The Mighty Pen Project, brainchild
of best-selling author and educator David
L. Robbins, recognizes that every veteran
has a unique story and that those
warriors who have wielded the
" sword " may very well benefit
from the power of the pen.
Through the non-profit
initiative, former military
servicemen and servicewomen
are offered semester-length,
collegiate-level creative writing
classes free of charge. Classes are
taught by university writing
professors and held in a
classroom at the Virginia War
Memorial in Richmond.
The goal is to create a living
history of military service
through writing: to generate,
preserve, share and honor stories
written by military veterans and
their supporters. In short, says
Robbins, " We want to serve those
who have served. "
The writing classes aren't just for
former military members. The Mighty
Pen Project, in partnership with the
Virginia War Memorial Foundation,
provides classroom writing instruction
to any military veteran or immediate
family member, as well as military
support personnel.
" There are only 15 spots in each class,
so we encourage people to apply early, "
notes Robbins, who teaches creative
writing at Virginia Commonwealth
University's Honors College. As a board
member and founder of the Mighty Pen
Project, Robbins has been teaching the
writing classes since the organization's
inception in 2014.
Robert Hodierne, chair of the
his 40-year journalism career as a freelance
photographer covering the Vietnam War.
" I've spent a good part of my professional
life as a journalist covering war (three so
far) and folks in the military. The Mighty
Pen Project seems like a good way to keep
working at that, " he says.
During class, participants learn creative
writing skills spanning multiple genres,
including personal memoir, fiction and
poetry. At the conclusion of each class
session, the Virginia War Memorial hosts a
public event where students read selections
of their written work. Selections from the
session are also bound and
preserved for future generations
in the Memorial's Research
Library. " We're proud to support
the Mighty Pen Project. It fits
into our mission of educating the
public, serving veterans and
preserving history, " says Dr. Clay
Mountcastle, director of the
Virginia War Memorial.
The writing classes involve
Mighty Pen Project founder, David Robbins, and executive
director, Rachel Landsee, greet Prince George Electric
Cooperative CEO Mike Malandro (right).
Department of Journalism at the
University of Richmond, is the instructor
for January's writing class. Hodierne began
www.co-opliving.com
'When Prince George Electric
Cooperative was asked to
help sponsor publication of
the Mighty Pen Project
Anthology & Archive, we were
happy to partner up with Fort
Lee Federal Credit Union and
support a program that helps
those who have sacrificed and
served,' says Malandro.
more than learning how to
eloquently weave words together.
Participants share of themselves.
They reveal the humanity that
drives them, cultivating the
ability to express thoughts and
feelings through the written
word. For veterans, this can
mean baring their souls and
delving deep to put into words
the emotions, observations and
experiences that may otherwise be too
painful to remember. Oftentimes, this
steps beyond telling a story. Participants in
these classes learn to own their stories.
The effect is profound, poignant,
provocative.
Denya Hankerson, Prince George
Electric Cooperative (PGEC) board
member and former Army supply sergeant,
has two decades of military experience
under her belt. " Throughout my life, I've
written hundreds of research papers. But
when it comes to trying to tell your own
story on paper, it's really difficult, " she says.
It's the reason Hankerson looks forward
to attending the writing classes. " It's
something I really want to do - to
effectively write my story and own it. I'm
thankful for the Mighty Pen Project, a place
where veterans come together to learn to
write in a safe, trusting environment. "
January 2017 | Cooperative Living | 15
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Cooperative Living January 2017

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