Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Grega.
Hi Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am the coordinator of the Cleveland Chapter of Guitars For Vets (G4V), started in 2011. I’ve been playing guitar since the late ’60s. I was able to retire in 2010, and our son was in a band in Chicago at the time. They played at a benefit for the national chapter of G4V in Milwaukee, which is where it all began. Afterward, my son sent me an email address from one of the originators, Patrick Nettesheim, to see if I might be interested. I replied to Patrick that maybe I could help out with the Cleveland chapter, not knowing that there wasn’t a Cleveland chapter at the time. The response from them was “So, you want to start a chapter in Cleveland?”. I said that it wasn’t my original intent, but that I’d give it a try. It took about a year to work things out at Cleveland’s Wade Park VA Facility, but we gave our first lessons in November of 2011. Since the beginning in 2011 to today, we’ve presented over 100 guitars to Veterans!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Things were going fairly well with G4V, including lessons, finding volunteer instructors, practice guitar donations, and fundraising until 2019, when COVID hit. Everything came to a halt, as we were not allowed into the VA facility, as was the case throughout the country. The shut out continued for the next four years until early 2023. Just before the restart, G4V allowed us to provide lessons at VFW’s. We selected Cleveland VFW Post 2533 as our alternate site. The addition of the VFW has been very helpful for us. Although we’ve started up again at the VA, it’s only on a limited basis at this time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As mentioned, I’ve been playing guitar for more than 50 years. I’m just a “strummer”, as i play chords on an acoustic guitar to accompany my singing. I consider myself to be a pretty good singer, and a mediocre guitar player! Within our Guitars For Vets chapter we’ve created the “G4V Band”, which usually consists of a full all-volunteer group, including drums, electric guitar, bass guitar and keyboard. It’s whomever shows up, so sometimes it might just be a couple of us on guitars & vocals! Along with G4V I’m a guitarist and singer with “The Mourning Glory Band”, a six-piece group playing mostly older rock and roll. I also play in a duo called “Paydirt”, with myself on acoustic guitar and an electric guitarist, usually Mark McNulty, with whom I’ve been playing for more than 14 years! Occasionally I’ll do a solo gig, and also play at the VA once a month just for fun.
How do you define success?
With Guitars For Vets, it could be based on the number of guitars that have been presented to Veterans who’ve completed the program. But there was a point a few years back where we learned that one of the participants had been considering suicide before getting involved with G4V, and that music saved his life! To me, that one person spells success, regardless of anything else that we accomplish.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://guitars4vets.org
- Facebook: Guitars For Vets – Cleveland, Ohio
