iii iv v
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
Male and Female Angels, Chorus
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
“MADRE DOLOROSA/THE LONG JOURNEY HOME”
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
This work is dedicated to the healing of the wounded warriors, to all the men and women who have fought and suffered the wounds of war, which are inflicted not only on the body but also on the soul. It is dedicated to all the families and loved ones who have struggled with the consequences of the war at home. We also want to respectfully memorialize all of the civilian victims on both sides of all wars. May they find healing and consolation in the arms of the Divine.
We acknowledge the warriors, men and women, as well as their dear ones, wives, husbands, children, and partners, for their generosity, courage, and sacrifice. We also acknowledge author Sebastian Junger and the late photographer Tim Hetherington and all the men they documented in the book, “War,” and the film, “Restrepo,” whose words and actions inspired many of the scenes in this work, as well as Paul Dyer and all of the soldiers documented in the film “Shepherds of Helmand.” We also acknowledge the psychologist Dr. Edward Tick for his continuous efforts to heal veterans with PTSD, and for his brilliant book, “War and the Soul,” which has provided us significant insight in the creation of this work. We thank Miah Washburn for his military consultation and passionate support. We also thank the composer and professor Dr. Robert Kyr, from the depths of our hearts, for his guidance and invaluable mentorship throughout the arduous process of writing an opera. We have been deeply touched and saddened by the many video, audio, and text blogs of U.S. soldiers whose online journals have documented their struggled with PTSD. We are indebted to many of them, and our prayers and acknowledgement are especially dedicated to those who have succumbed to PTSD and taken their own lives. May this work lift the burden of the hearts of the warriors as we await a time when war will be obsolete.
60