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By Candice Beu In the past decade my sisters and I started performing for veteran gatherings and charity functions as a way of giving back to the men and women who have served our great country. When we started putting these shows together we wondered how we could appeal to the young men and women returning from Afghanistan (and their families) as well as the Vietnam Vets, and the Octogenarian Veterans who would come to these events with their loved ones. To bridge the gap we decided on creating several collections of performances spotlighting songs throughout the ages, ranging from the 1920’s to today’s music. Our most popular set was designed after the classic USO (United Service Organization) Show model galvanized by Bob Hope during WWII. We put our own spin on songs like “Soldier Boy”, “Be My Baby” and “You Belong to Me” and added some standard sister act numbers of the 1940s & ‘50s such as “Mr. Sandman” and “Lollipop” (by the Chordettes). Our very favorite addition was the harmonically complex show stopper “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrew Sisters. Bob Hope was known as the “one man moral machine” for troops back in the day, so we wanted to emulate that tradition by becoming a three woman moral boost for our audience of veterans in this modern day era. The very first time we donned our khaki skirted uniforms, Garrison caps and black patent leather heels was for a Bob Hope USO tribute to our Veterans hosted by his daughter Linda Hope, at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. The entire sold out event was an absolutely stellar experience. It inspired us to keep the formula we put together and find more ways to give back in this manner through comedy and song. Every time we’d get up to sing for an audience of Veterans, something magical would happen. We would all be transported in time. I can’t exactly say what was happening during these moments but it was transcendent. These performances became the most intimately uplifting of our career, in my opinion. Not only were we getting the opportunity to honor service men and women, but we were helping raise money, awareness and assistance for them, which in turn is a very holistic enterprise, especially for those who suffer with disabilities, chronic pain, depression and severe PTSD. Every time we’d put on our uniforms to sing for an audience of Vets (of all ages), we felt this healing experience occurring. It was never mere Cosplay for us sisters. We saw it as our duty to serve those who served us. We ourselves never had to get out on the front lines or sacrifice in times of war for the freedoms we all enjoy today. Instead, we got the chance to touch the hearts and the lives of those who did, in really meaningful ways. We used our faces & our voices as instruments of peace, to entertain, rebuild and uplift the military personnel and the people they love, who came to our stage. We already know that through Music Therapy we can touch people emotionally, bring folks together, facilitate self expression & remembering, encourage the ability to remain focused, strengthen connections, and set the tone to enable our bodies to move and our cells to heal as we celebrate life through song. We are not trained Music Therapists by any means but we do use music and entertainment to provide valuable therapeutic support to our Veterans whenever we can. I would personally like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Beu Sisters, to extend our appreciation to all who have served their fellow man in this manner and to thank everyone who lovingly supports our troops and dear Veterans with their time, talents, energy, and donations. May we never forget how truly blessed we are by the freedoms ensured to us by these courageous men and women. Happy Veterans Day! 29