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HVWP started as an outreach program for veterans returning from World War II. Today, as the long-time, respected component of the DVA’s medical center recreation and rehabilitation programs, the project and its magazine regularly impact the lives of veterans as they share personal experiences and innermost thoughts. The program continues its important work for those serving in the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Now, with the return of injured veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, the project is more important than ever.
The project’s therapeutic writing program is designed to acknowledge military veterans’ experiences and build self-esteem through creative expression and possible publication.
HVWP was established in 1946 by Elizabeth Fontaine with the support of the Chicago North Shore chapter of Theta Sigma Phi (now Association for Women in Communications, Inc.) Writing as therapy was a new and untried idea, but Elizabeth and the other volunteers quickly gained the confidence of the Veterans Administration. Soon hospitalized veterans, with the help of writing aides, were expressing their feelings in stories and poems and competing for prizes at the local level.
As more and more veterans were encouraged to write about their war experiences, they competed for prizes such as pens, pencils and other writing supplies, magazine subscriptions and even an occasional typewriter.
In 1952, Sally Keach and Gladys Feld Helzberg, with assistance from the Greater Kansas City chapter of Theta Sigma Phi, established Veterans’ Voices to provide a national outlet for this special writing. Original staff members were Margaret Sally Keach, Gladys Helzberg, Charlotte McKenzie, Doris Quinn, Mary Jane Pierronet, Josephine May, Helen Huyck, Betty Butler, Kay Dyer, Dorothy Martin, Lucille Doores and Mary Marcene Tomson.
The first issue was a mimeographed, hand-stapled and hand-addressed edition. It consisted of 18 pages --12 prose and six poetry. Originally the manuscripts were sent to the North Shore Chapter of Theta Sigma Phi for judging and awarding of prizes. Then the winning manuscripts were sent to Kansas City for publication. Joseph Posik, a veteran who used a pencil in his mouth to type his stories, suggested that the Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals have their own contests and winning entries be sent directly to Kansas City. In 1972, the HVWP headquarters moved to Kansas City with Sally Keach as chairman. In 1974, Margaret Clark was named editor and has served in that capacity ever since.
Veterans’ Voices is published each March, July and October by an all volunteer staff. Many of the volunteers are members or past members of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications. The chapter also supports HVWP in other ways. A board member coordinates publicity and the chapter makes an annual financial contribution.
Volunteer Staff and Board Members:
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