Ogden performance seen as one way for communities to connect with veterans

OGDEN — A Korean War veteran. An Eagle Scout project undertaken by his grandson. A musical production chock full of patriotic themes.

Does it get more Americana than that?

It all will converge Wednesday night when the residents at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home, 1102 N. 1200 West in Ogden, gather to enjoy "We the People, The Musical."

Presented by Sunset Community Theater, the one-night-only show was the idea of cast member Adam Schulz, who was looking for a way to connect with his grandfather — Jim O'Keefe, 74, a Korean War Marine recovering from a fall and hip surgery a few weeks ago — and other veterans.

"My dad and I were on our way home and it hit both of us, that it would be a good idea to bring the musical down here, because it's patriotically themed," Schulz, 16, said. "It kind of hit both of us at the same time."

The community theater was finishing its June run of the musical, but Schulz said he needed little coaxing to get Wednesday's "road show" scheduled.

"We brought it up to the director, the cast and the crew, and everybody pretty much hopped on board. They're all behind doing it," he said.

It's that kind of enthusiasm that Schulz hopes will spark more people to not just come for the show, but to find their own ways to bond with veterans.

"The veterans really do like people coming and talking and doing different activities," he said. "We thought that this is one thing we could do to help out and start that, to thank them for all the things they've done for us. It's easy to get lost and caught up in the everyday for us and the things we do at home, but we need to realize there are people fighting for our freedoms every day."

The show will be something of a turnaround for O'Keefe, who used to entertain youngsters on his lap with his whistling talents, and now will see his grandson, already a veteran of acting and singing.

"I thought it was great," O'Keefe said of the idea for the show. "I've not seen him perform. He's been doing things like this for some time."

P.J. Woodbury, recreation director at the home, said the show fits with the facility's desire to have opportunities for residents, but with the understanding that those activities need to occur on-site.