By Katherine Svenkeson

Veteran comedian offers healing humour for wounded warriors

Nov 7, 2016 | 11:00 AM

In its third year, the Wounded Warriors Weekend Fundraiser in North Battleford brought together veterans, their loved ones and supporters to one space.

At the Don Ross Community Centre on Nov. 5, guests including country music star George Canyon and veteran turned comedian Bobby Henline entertained the packed house.

Henline suffers from PTSD and nearly 40 per cent of his body is covered with third degree burns. During a tour in Iraq, the armoured vehicle he was travelling in blew up and he was the sole survivor out of four other soldiers. He uses his experiences to help others and in his appearance in North Battleford, told his story of overcoming obstacles mixed with his sense of humour.

Henline poked a lot of fun at his appearance during his performance.

“I’m retired military trying to be a comedian,” Henline said. “As you guys know military doesn’t make any money, as retired even less. So that makes me very cheap. Like I’m so cheap I expect a discount on my cremation.”

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Having attending the fundraiser last year, Henline was invited back by popular demand and said it was amazing to return.

“Seeing the compassion everyone has, not even the veterans, but those who want to support the veterans, who understand what the veterans have done, seeing that is an amazing process,” he said. “It’s so hard to explain without being here to understand the energy and everything that happens here tonight. I love it.”

The crowd swarmed to Henline after his set, from young children to retired vets, asking for photos and sharing stories. The comedian said that the attention can be a bit much at times for a veteran.

“I’m out there I’m having fun and just kinda doing my thing, doing what I like to do and helping people and I love taking photos and stuff like that, but sometimes I get surrounded,” he said. “Being a veteran and being surrounded is kind of weird, but you talk to yourself: ‘They’re here for a photo, just relax.’ But a lot of the attention can be overwhelming.”

However, Henline said that he knows the attention is part of the gig, and appreciates the healing happening between people.

“A lot of people have come up to me tonight to talk to me, either just to say thanks, or to share something in their family that they’re going through and kind of say thanks in a way that I kind of helped them tonight by sharing my story with them,” he said. “I think we can all help everybody. We all need to share our stories and talk about what we’ve been through because that lets someone else know that they’re not the only ones and it is possible to make it through.”

Henline will bring his performance to Vegas for Remembrance Day.

Katherine.svenkeson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ksvenkeson