Vietnam Army veteran Harold Burns pulled a silver and black harmonica to his mouth with two hands and created a series of notes with each breath.

“I thought it was pretty interesting,” said Burns, 70, of Portersville, about learning to play the harmonica during a new Butler VA Health Care System program. “I fooled around with it, but definitely didn't know anything about it.”

In addition to the new musical ability on the harmonica he wants to gain, Burns, who has had two open-heart surgeries and 18 stents inserted, looked forward to the breathing exercise.

“I'm hoping it strengthens my lungs and gets my breathing a little better,” he said. “I'm hoping it'll help everything.”The 15 veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other chronic lung diseases, who filled the “Harmonicas for Health” program last week, breathed in and out as they were introduced to the instrument during the first session of the class at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center, 353 N. Duffy Road.Harmonicas for Health, created by the COPD Foundation and the Pulmonary Empowerment Program, encourages veterans to practice the “Pursed-Lips Breathing” technique and to exercise their breathing muscles as they play the harmonica.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and refractory asthma, according to the COPD Foundation.

COPD is the third-leading cause of death by disease in the United States, according to the American Lung Association. Over 15.3 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, but millions more may have the disease without even knowing it.Although there is no cure, it can be managed.Leading the session was volunteer Fred Dillaman, 66, of Butler who has played the harmonica since age 10.“I hope they enjoy it first,” Dillaman said. “It's breathing exercises without it feeling like exercise.”Dillaman met Dr. Henry Bahnson of Pittsburgh at a harmonica conference in the mid-1970s, which inspired him to learn the benefits of the harmonica. Dillaman also leads the “Guitars for Vets” program.

“Before I met him I thought it was something you huffed and puffed in and had a good time,” he said. “I didn't realize it was good for you.”With every exhale and inhale, playing the harmonica is a fun way to exercise the lungs and build strength, said Karen Dunn, Butler VA Health Care System's health promotion and disease prevention program manager.In addition, the program benefits include getting veterans who might have difficulty breathing, a lung issue or are on oxygen out of the house and meeting new people, exercising abdominal muscles and relieving stress, she said.

Another participant who wanted to gain the breathing benefits from playing the harmonica was Army veteran Terri Dawes.“I liked it,” said Dawes of Butler, who has lung cancer. “I want to stay off oxygen.”Reading music comes easy to Dawes because she has previously played the organ and violin, she said.There's healing in music, Dawes said.“It's relaxing,” she said. “It takes your mind off things because you're concentrating on the notes.”

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Harold Aughton/Butler Eagle: (left — right) Frank Boehm, a Marine Corp. veteran from Portersville; Jerome Winghart, a Navy veteran from Butler; Ken Selfridge, an Army veteran from Butler; and Rick Gallagher, an Army veteran from Butler learn to play the harmonica during a recent class design to help veterans combat the effects of COPD.

Above, Harold Burns of Portersville, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army, learns to play the harmonica during a new Butler VA Health Care System program. At left, Terri Dawes of Butler, an Army veteran, learns to play the harmonica. Below, Marine Corps veteran Frank Boehm of Portersville also attended the “Harmonicas for Health” class.

Harold Aughton/Butler Eagle: Terri Dawes of Butler and an Army veteran learns to play the harmonica during the a class to help veterans combat the effects of COPD.