On Thursday, Sept. 11, Waynesburg hosted Soldiers and Sons in the BeeHive at 8 p.m. 

Andrew and Matthew Stewart, who created the band Soldiers and Sons, talked about the event and the effect it had on them from a personal level.

“We are huge proponents of local music, local business. We’ve grown up here in Waynesburg, and we bleed Waynesburg,” they said. “Any chance we get to serve the community in a Christ-like manner and share, we jump on the opportunity. We love the continuing relationship that we have with the university, and we’ve just been blessed to play here for several years.” 

Larissa Howe, a volleyball player and graduate assistant for the student engagement office, helped run the event. Howe talked about the impact that she hoped this event would have on the students, faculty and staff.

“I’ve always wanted everyone to have the same appreciation that I do, just to kind of sit and listen and feel the love that other people have for what they’re doing,” Howe said. 

Soldiers and Sons were not originally supposed to perform, but got the opportunity after other bands backed out. Andrew and Matthew Stewart talked about coming to the university.

“I think it’s consistency… It has impact, and the affirmation of people that appreciate what we do. There’s people coming in, and they might be working on homework or just need a break from the stress of the day. We play a lot of covers and worship songs, and help people relax and just give them some background music. Then getting to talk to students after is always a joy.”  

With this event happening on Sept. 11, a day of remembrance, Howe talked about just how important having Soldiers and Sons perform was.

“It’s just a blessing in general that we are able to gather like this,” Howe said. “Not every school has the ability to do things like this. Just the fact that we are all still here today and we still have the freedoms today to live and breathe like this and be in a culture like this is great.”  

Coffeehouse is a once a month event in the BeeHive, starting at 8 p.m. This event gives students the chance to enjoy coffee and socialize with one another while listening to music from local bands and singers around the Waynesburg area.