Helping veterans through music

100% of proceeds from song "Camouflage"

helps support veterans' mental health

Matt Rogers debuts his song "Camouflage", the proceeds of which benefit Brothers Keeper Veteran Foundation.

Story by Lynn Hobbs, photos contributed by Matt Rogers

For Lake Country’s own country music artist, Matt Rogers, music is therapy. And now Matt is using his music to raise funds for therapy and mental health support for America’s military veterans.

Matt wrote his newly-released song “Camouflage” to raise awareness about veteran suicide. “Some of the statistics (on veteran suicide) are absolutely staggering,” he said in an interview with news anchor Breanna Keiler on CNN. 

According to the most recent report from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, approximately 17 veterans die by suicide per day. However, that number is a 22% decrease from earlier numbers, according to the VA, due to the Department’s increased expansive approach to suicide prevention in the latter part of this decade. Noting that “suicide is a complex issue with many factors,” the VA also emphasizes suicide prevention is possible and help is available.

And that is what Matt is trying to do with his song. He said 100% of the revenues earned from listeners streaming “Camouflage” will be donated to Brothers Keeper Veteran Foundation.

“That’s cool for me because it’s the first time I’m not using my platform to enhance my music and myself, but using it to help something much more important that can help people and make a difference,” Matt said in conversation with Lakelife.

When we talked, Matt was feeling both stressed and blessed because he was at home in Nashville and scheduled to perform at Opry Land Plaza two days later on July Fourth; but the van loaded with his band’s equipment was in a repair shop in Macon, where it had broken down while on tour. The good news is they got it back and had a great holiday performing not only at the Opry, but also at Ole Red.

Formerly a resident of Eatonton and a graduate of Gatewood Schools and St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Matt moved to the Music City about 10 years ago, where he has delighted audiences, earned a reputation as a dynamic songwriter, shared the stage with the biggest names in country music, and has won multiple awards.

Stardom hasn’t overshadowed his hometown connections and visits; and it was bad news from home that laid the foundation for “Camouflage.” Matt said his brother’s best friend, who was also his own friend, served in the U.S. Marine Corp for 23 years and retired in February 2024 and returned home to his family in Milledgeville. Sadly, he killed himself three months later.

“I got the phone call while out on the road and I was caught off guard and distraught,” Matt lamented. “Because I was on the road performing, I wasn’t able to be back for the service, which greatly upset me.”

Matt’s guitar player, Nick Reed, is a U.S. Army Combat Veteran who had also lost several of his friends the same way. One night, the two of them sat in a hotel room and wrote “Camouflage.” “We did it for therapy because that’s what we do—music is therapy to us,” Matt said. “We didn’t plan for anyone to hear it; we were just venting about the broken system and the epidemic in our veteran community.”

As friends heard the song and Matt learned about Brothers Keeper, they decided to use it to bring more awareness to the problem of veterans’ mental health issues and raise money at the same time for BKVF. Matt has grown close with the BKVF founder, Chris Cathers, and said there currently are 85 veterans in the organization’s care. BKVF connects veterans in need to personalized treatments without any barriers of entry for as long as needed, according to its website. The process involves assessing individuals’ situations and specific needs; connecting them to relevant resources that meet each individual’s own, unique set of needs; and supporting and encouraging them as they work toward improvement.

“They are trying to destigmatize veterans’ mental health problems and that’s what I want this song to do,” Matt said. “BKVF is not afraid to get their hands dirty; when they see a problem, they find the solution and they don’t let much red tape get in the way.”

“Camouflage” is available on all streaming services, and the shirt is available at www.MattRogersCountry.com/shop. Matt said the shirt has already sold out twice, and all proceeds from shirt sales also go to Brothers Keeper Veteran Foundation. The song may also be heard on YouTube, although that doesn’t benefit BKVF. The YouTube link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fmo2B570Ls4

For more information on Brothers Keeper, visit www.bkvf.org. 

Veterans or veterans’ family members who are having suicidal thoughts can find confidential support 24/7 from the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988 then Press 1), or by texting 838255, or via online chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

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This story appeared in Lakelife magazine, Volume 19, Issue 4 and is the property of Smith Communications, Inc. No portions of the story or photos may be copied or used without written permission from the publisher.