Inspired by meeting Curtis Bean, a veteran and founder of Art of War Project, and our ongoing work in the area of arts & healing through the National Initiative of Arts & Health in the Military, Bob Lynch published an article with the Huffington Post for Veterans Day 2015. 

"Across the country, stories of how Veterans come back -- and what they give back -- after overcoming sometimes decades of struggles with combat and service-related illness and injuries are emerging. 

Americans for the Arts is pleased to be working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Auxiliary, along with many other national, state and local Veterans, arts, health and non-profits, as well as public agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts, to create more opportunities and access to the arts -- for healing, for community, or just for pure joy. We are beginning to map the work taking place across the country through the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military National Directory. With a growing list of more than 100 programs and organizations in 37 states and the District of Columbia, we encourage everyone who has programs and services that are serving our military service members, Veterans and their families through the arts to submit your information.

As we approach Veteran's Day, a time when our nation reflects on the contribution, sacrifice and legacy of our military service members and their families, let us not only recognize and honor the service our Veterans have already given to our country, but celebrate and thank them for their continued service through their commitment, their creativity and their ongoing contributions to us, and to our communities."