Longleaf Press and The Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities invite the public to an evening of poetry, reflection, and celebration honoring our military veterans on Wednesday, January 8th at 5:30pm at Weymouth Center. The evening promises to be a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of our veterans, as well as the transformative power of poetry to connect, heal, and inspire.

Several contributors to the Longleaf Press poetry anthology, A Path to Freedom, will participate in a reading. This significant collection, edited by Lenard D. Moore, LeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens, and Shannon C. Ward, brings together more than fifty compelling voices that reflect the sacrifices, resilience, and enduring spirit of veterans and their loved ones. Poets participating in the reading include John Balaban, LeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens, Janet Ford, Jacque Jacobs, Elizabeth W. Jackson, Paul Jones, Pat Riviere-Seel, and Shannon C. Ward. Jones and Riviere-Seel also serve on the Friends of Weymouth Board of Directors.

“This is a remarkable volume,” said Joseph Bathanti, former North Carolina Poet Laureate. “A Path to Freedom illustrates beautifully and poignantly the extraordinary bounty and diversity of writers in North Carolina who speak with eyewitness precision and passion about the military experience. This ample and convincing anthology delivers the testimony of fifty unforgettable voices that will open eyes and hearts and ring long after its concluding poem.”

Participating poets will also offer their insights into the themes that weave throughout their work. Following the reading, the editors will lead a discussion about the inspiration and creative process behind this collection. The discussion is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the anthology’s mission to honor and amplify the voices of those connected to military life.

For online reservations and donations, CLICK HERE.