Marine Veteran creates dance to honor her late husband

After losing her father and her husband, a Marine Corps Veteran created a dance to honor them.

From the discipline of Marine Corps boot camp to the compassionate corridors of VA, Veteran Mary Jean Houlahan has always found her purpose in service.

Inspired by female Marines who visited her college campus, Houlahan embarked on a military career in 1964. “The Corps gave me more than I ever gave it. My experiences in the Marine Corps shaped my belief in determination with diplomacy and provided a blueprint for my life,” she shared.

Military service has been home to her. Her father, an Army staff sergeant, paid the ultimate sacrifice during his service in World War II, just months after her birth.

Her father left a legacy which profoundly influenced her. “I picked up his shield and carried on in a manner that honored his name,” she said. 

Now a VA nurse

Houlahan’s honor of her father remains years later as she continues her service at the West Palm Beach VA, where she has traded in saving lives on the battlefield to saving lives in the medical field. 

Now she leads in the Community Care and Pulmonary Service, specializing in lung cancer screening through the low dose CT program. Her most cherished award is not a formal decoration, but a small box of chocolates from a grateful breast cancer survivor.

Although work is rewarding and the service reminded her of her strength, nothing could prepare her for the loss of her husband after 50 years of marriage. 

The camaraderie of service pushed her back on her feet, but this time with something she had never tried: participating in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival where she discovered solace in ballroom dancing, 

Guided by VA music therapist Shashanna Hummer, she created a dance to “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” honoring her late husband. The performance helped her release her grief and reconnect with positive energy. 

Won two gold medals at festival

“If I can dance, I can breathe again,” Houlahan said. “The bonds formed with my other Veterans during the festival are unforgettable. We are all coming from a place of needing to be healed physically and/or emotionally. The experience of supporting each other and creating something beautiful brings us closer, bringing back the sense of unity we have missed since leaving active service.”

Houlahan took home more than just healing and finding happiness again. She won two national level Gold Medal awards in ballroom and rhythm dance.

Her advice to transitioning Veterans is simple: “You are and always will be a part of our unit. It’s just a transfer of function, not a discharge from your ideals, your talents your abilities or your military community.”  

Learn more about the Creative Arts Festival.