"This is the kindest group of people and they are very supportive of each other," said Jennifer Lewis, creative arts therapist at the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center.

Luckily, this year's choral group can sing on key and they are being rewarded for their vocalizing abilities.

The Temple VA Singers won gold and bronze this year in its division of the VA creative arts competitions and were invited to participate in the production numbers at the 2009 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The festival is taking place this week in San Antonio with newspaper columnist Heloise serving as emcee of the program.

The VA Singers are in San Antonio now rehearsing for the Sunday show.

"They'll also be able to audition for different spots in the show," Lewis said.

Festival coordinators are building a big production number around a Texas medley that's part of the VA Singers' repertoire.

"That's kind of cool, especially since we already know all of the words," Lewis said.

The festival also celebrates the visual arts and a Temple VA patient, Marshal Randolph, won gold with his monochromatic drawing. Randolph's drawing will be on display with other award winning artwork this weekend.

Ernest T. Knox has been performing with the VA Singers for 15 years. Since Knox won gold for a song and dance number he performed during the division level competition and was selected by a national competition committee, he'll be performing a solo, the twist, in San Antonio. Four of the VA Singers will be doing backup vocals for Knox, with Ed Hall playing the saxophone.

"Since there are only about 20 acts in the entire show, we're excited for Ernie," Lewis said.

Jerry Chrisner, a longtime member of the VA Singers, participated in the national festival as far back as 1985, the first year the Temple VA group competed. He still talks about the breakfast he had at his first national competition, which took place in Washington, D.C. The group stayed at a nearby military base and was served in the officers' club.

Festival sponsors pick up the cost of the trip for all of the veterans who perform in the national event. About 3,500 veterans entered the competition and around 150 advance to the national festival.

"We've been very fortunate over the years," Lewis said.

Chrisner likens his involvement with the choir to therapy.

"I like to get out and I like to sing," he said.

It's a family affair, Knox said of the VA Singers. There's camaraderie among the group members.

"Everybody loves each other and there's no fighting or bickering," he said. "You feel like you're accomplishing something when you go out and sing. It lifts your spirit."

Hall came to the domiciliary in 1993 and plays his saxophone with the band and sings in the choir.

"I really enjoy it," Hall said. "We perform at nursing homes and you can see that it brightens up the residents' day."

Dennis Roberts, a drummer, is the newest member of the group and has been performing with the VA choir and band for a year.

Roberts retired from the military in 2008 and the VA choir and band have helped him transition from active Army to civilian life.

"Sometimes the Army is the only family you have and this has been the bridge to another life," he said.

There is also the satisfaction of doing something that gives others enjoyment, Roberts said.

This will be D. Lauture's third year at the festival and she's excited.

"It's one thing to talk about the festival, but when you get there and see people you've seen in past years and you begin to rehearse, it goes by really fast," Lauture said. "After a week you're so tired, but you're so happy."

By the time the Sunday performance rolls around, there's one thing Lauture said she can count on - tears.

"When we sing the 'Star Spangled Banner,' no matter what, I'm crying," she said. "I'm singing, but I'm crying."

"There's no doubt, getting to the festival is hard work, but it's worth it because we're family," Lauture said.

The final event comes as something of a shock for most, Lewis said.

"It's grander that you think it will be, the stage is larger than what you expect, the whole production is bigger," she said. Professionals come in to handle the sound and lighting.

The Temple participants work really hard on their entries each year, so they'll be able to go the next year, Lewis said.

"While we haven't gone every year, we've been back a number of times," she said. "Having such a wonderful group increases our chances of being invited back and we've had a lot of different people attend over the years."

Lauture said a lot of the credit for the Temple contingent's success should go to Lewis.

"If it weren't for Jenny none of this would have happened," she said.