‘Modern Warrior LIVE’ to make Michigan debut in Marquette; How to get tickets

MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN) — Veterans, their families, and caregivers are invited to a free event on Friday, July 19. It’s part performance, part dinner banquet, and all about connecting veterans with resources available to them.

Rachel Woody is the Director for the Marquette County Department of Veterans Affairs . Part of her role is raising awareness for Veterans benefits.

“If you serve your country, whether it was in-country or overseas, you’re still a veteran. And it’s worth just coming in to talk about what benefits are out there,” Woody said. “So, it’s at least coming in to see what’s here and what resources are here. And if they don’t want to utilize them right away, they know that that those benefits are.”

When it comes to accepting benefits, Woody said a common issue is some veterans thinking they don’t deserve benefits compared to others.

“The VA sets these funds aside. If we start losing veterans and they’re not utilizing the benefits, we could potentially lose that funding with the VA. It’s not earmarked for a certain specific veteran that was combat related. It’s for all veterans. I highly encourage them to reach out so that we can connect them with those benefits,” said Woody.

Woody applied for grant funding through the State of Michigan. The goal was to bring Modern Warrior LIVE to the Upper Peninsula.

“I want every veteran that hears this to try to get a ticket and at least come because it’s something they will never forget. I’m not a veteran, but I work with veterans all of the time,” said Woody. “It helped me understand how they think and how they feel throughout through a narrative for from a veteran that went through this experience. I really hope that through this, that veterans and family members will reach out and get the few remaining tickets that we have left because it’s life changing.”

According to the Modern Warrior LIVE website, here is the synopsis:

Modern Warrior LIVE is an immersive music and narrative experience that chronicles the story of US Army veteran Jaymes Poling and his journey through three deployments in Afghanistan and subsequent transition back home.

Narrated by Poling, this autobiographical production weaves together his story with a cast of world-class artists in multiple genres led by internationally-acclaimed trumpeter Dominick Farinacci.

This production shares a personal and emotional journey of the challenges of military service and the experience veterans face when they return back home, and it is a catalyst for meaningful conversation about mental health .

Modern Warrior LIVE website

The performance is Friday, July 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Forest Roberts Theatre on NMU’s campus. Tickets can be picked up in the Department of Veterans Affairs office at 215 West Hematite in Ishpeming, or you can reserve tickets by calling 906-485-1996.

During the performance, if veterans need someone to talk to, Woody has set up people waiting around the theatre to direct people to VA counselors who will be able to assist veterans.

Following the show, there will be a live Q&A with Jaymes Poling. From there, the audience will be directed to NMU’s Grand Ballroom for dinner. Along with a meal provided free of charge, all veterans will receive thank you gifts.

You can learn more about the Marquette County Department of Veterans Affairs here .

You can learn more about Modern Warrior LIVE here .

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