Healing Through Harmony: El Paso Marine Veteran Sean Tibbs Shares His Story at Freedom Sings USA Heyworth Retreat

Images by Alan Look Photography

 There is an old saying that music heals the parts of the soul that medicine cannot reach. Yesterday, at the 2026 Freedom Sings USA Veterans’ Songwriting Retreat in Heyworth, Illinois, that truth was on full display as local Marine Corps veteran Sean Tibbs of El Paso paired up with hit Nashville songwriter Bobby Tomberlin to turn a heavy military journey into a powerful piece of musical art.

Tibbs, known locally as a dedicated Teledata electrician with IBEW Local 197, originally stepped away from his civilian life and apprenticeship around 2009 to answer the call of duty. Deploying to Afghanistan for a grueling nine-month tour, Tibbs served with honor, returning home in 2010 to present his union with a U.S. flag flown during a combat mission over enemy territory.

While Tibbs successfully transitioned back into civilian life—graduating his apprenticeship in 2016 and continuing his trade—the invisible weight of deployment never truly disappears.

That is where Freedom Sings USA steps in. The organization pairs military veterans with professional songwriters to help them process their service, trauma, and triumphs through music. At the Heyworth retreat, Tibbs found a creative partner in Bobby Tomberlin, a Grammy-nominated craftsman who has written hits for country legends like Diamond Rio, Faith Hill, and Blake Shelton.

Images by Alan Look Photography

Together, the duo penned a deeply moving track titled "The Ones That Call Him Dad."

The song doesn't shy away from the stark realities of war, touching on the shift in perspective that combat brings—how it "takes away the old control" and leaves permanent, quiet scars. Yet, the heart of the track centers on the anchors waiting at home. The emotional anchor of the chorus highlights that while the bonds of military brotherhood are unbreakable, the ultimate healing and purpose come from the family that welcomes a soldier back.

As the final lines of the song echo, the deepest love and truest peace are found with "the ones that call him dad."

The collaborative session concluded with Tomberlin presenting Tibbs with a beautifully framed print of the song's lyrics, commemorating a day where heavy memories were transformed into a legacy of healing, strength, and song.