Veteran's Creative Arts Festival 2009
What an awesome opportunity to attend the VCAF in San Antonio, Texas from October 5-11, 2009. Although the 16 hour days were exhausting, the outcome was heartwarming. Seeing the veteran’s smiles when they finish a project or when someone takes a picture of their artwork can make tears overwhelm you at times.
One young veteran caught my eye the first day. He was 25 years old and had served twice in Afghanistan. His entry for the VCAF was a painting titled The Epitome of PTSD. This young veteran has two small children from his previous marriage and during his tour of duty they left him. He has recently been in contact with the children and after counseling has been reunited with them on a regular basis. He is a very proud father. Very unfortunately, he has been called back up and is being sent to Iraq to complete his tour of duty.
These veterans are there not only to proudly display their masterpieces, be it a rug, painting, or talent, but also to sit down, share their story with you while you hold their hand and laugh and cry with them. Some of the veterans never had a family to come back to and just a smiling face makes the day seem so much better.
We realized during the festival that they cherish the American Legion Auxiliary and you could always hear them say “there goes the ladies of the ALA.” That is why it is important that we continue to support this program. Donations can be sent to Department Headquarters and earmarked “VCAF”. This program cannot function alone and is one way of showing these veterans that they have accomplished so much in life.
One area that caught my eye that week was the making of the craft kits that are supplied by the Hospitalized Veterans Program. The veterans enjoyed painting a stained glass Yellow Rose of Texas, making belt buckles with the insignia from the VCAF, or making paper maché hats for the fiesta. Whatever the craft was, they enjoyed doing the project.
Pictures are posted on the National Veteran's Creative Arts Festival Facebook page and I encourage all members to look through the photos of the veteran’s achievements.
Veterans they are and true to their country, but they are also artists, singers, dancers, performers and most of all human beings who have valiently SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.
-Gwenda Schroeder-Zulch
Permalink || Sunday November 1st, 2009