On October 26, 2009, the Theater of War came to Washington, D.C. at the Shakespeare Theater. This event was sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense as part of their Mental Health Summit. I was invited to participate on the panel as a member of the Blue Star Families. During the year, Theater of War has presented readings of Sophocles' Ajax and Pilocetetes to military communities.

Bryan Doerries is the translator and director of this performance. He stated that 'These ancient plays timelessly and universally depict the psychological and physical wounds inflicted upon warriors by war.' It is his hope that by presenting these plays, 'it will demystify and destigmatize psychological injury and to facilitate open dialogue with members of the military family.' The panel that follows the reading serves an important purpose. It is a frank discussion about the challenges that service members, their families, and those who care for them face each day.

Bryan Doerries told me that he has performed this play to audiences on military bases, hospitals, homeless shelters, and theaters. Generally, the audience participates by sharing their experiences with the panel. It was suggested that Greek drama was a form of story telling and tool for therapy for veterans thousands of years ago. It is a creative method to engage the audience to feel safe and comfortable to open up about their personal journeys -- perhaps a form of group therapy.

Ajax tells the story of warrior who becomes depressed near the end of the Trojan War. He attempts to murder his commanding officers but fails and eventually commits suicide. Philoctetes is the story of a Greek warrior who is marooned on a deserted island after sustaining an injury. Both tales reveal poignant aspects to the trauma of war and its impact on family and fellow troops. The actors in the readings included Adam Driver, Terrence Howard, Elizabeth Marvel, and David Strathairn. They all did a brilliant job. It was a simple set -- a table with microphones and no costumes. Their emotion and turmoil were reflected in their voice inflections and movements of their heads and eyes. We all sat transfixed throughout the readings.

I sat in the front row with other members of the panel which included two members of the military, a doctor from the Uniformed Services, and a chaplain. Each provided their own reflections of how the war impacted their lives. Sitting on the panel from center stage, I could see several generals sitting in the front row with many seats taken in the auditorium by other members of the military and participants from the Mental Health Summit. We each had a few minutes to speak followed by questions from the audience. I had a chance to share my experience as a member of the military family who has faced the challenges of loved ones coming back from war. I must admit that it is easier to do a formal medical presentation as a doctor, but I felt that it was important to share and connect with others who faced similar situations. As we know, feeling isolated and alone in our journeys can be difficult. I could see many heads nod while I spoke, which indicated to me that I was perhaps a voice for those who could not speak.

This setting in Washington led to more questions that had a legal or a scientific basis which is indicative of life in D.C. Apparently, in other performances, more members of the audience tell about their war injuries and challenges of adapting to life back home. There was interest in the Blue Star Families mission which was an honor to share with others.  I hope that the Theater of War continues to be performed across this country and to eventually be open to the general public. It may be a wonderful method to share with the public what the impact of war can be on those who serve and those who love them.

Editor's comment:

After months of hard work, The Post Deployment Health Assessment Act (originally S.711) that Dr. Mark testified on Capitol Hill to support was signed into law as an amendment to the FY 2010 Defense Reauthorization Act on 10/28/2009. http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=57