national veterans creative arts festival

Dari Pfeiffer uses dance to tell her story.

Veteran Mary Jean Houlahan says, "If I can dance, I can breathe again.” For her, dance is a way to honor her late husband.

VA and the American Legion Auxiliary present the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

VA facilities add creative arts to therapy programs to advance rehabilitation. Annual competition recognizes recovery made through therapy.

For many Veterans, music can be a powerful form of therapy. Music therapy is the process of using songs and instruments to help achieve therapeutic goals in a clinical setting. Here’s Peter’s story.

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival hopes to inspire Veterans to realize their creative potential and leave feeling healed.

A total of 115 Veterans from across the country will showcase their talents at this year's National Creative Arts Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Barbara Wickham tried to ignore her pain from a sexual assault while she served in the Army. It took Red Velvet and horse therapy to heal her wounds.

David Ryba had trouble after the Army piecing his life together. He got help at the Milwaukee VA. Now his missing puzzle piece photo is going national.

Denny “Santa Claus” Smith, 73, won gold at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival with a tribute to his wife of 49 years and his son who died suddenly.

The festival is hosted by VA's Western New York Healthcare System and will culminate with an art and writing exhibition and stage show performance on Oct. 29.

The following letter was received from one of the 2016 VA National Veterans Creative Art Festival participants.