CALL FOR ARTISTS!

With Independence Day right around the corner, The Veteran One Stop Center of WNY (VOC) should empower our local veterans to RE-Boot their lives and live full lives filled with optimism and hope for a joyous life. Currently, the VOC has two opportunities for artists in general and artists who are veterans.  The VOC is launching a unique fundraising endeavor and opening a veteran art gallery within their space at 1255 Niagara Street in Buffalo, NY.

The” Re-Boot: helping local veterans reboot their lives “engages the community, including local businesses and artists, to combine forces to paint donated new boots. One of these boots will be sent to area businesses. To receive the second boot, the business or group must raise funds to donate to the VOC.  In the meantime, the boots will be on exhibit at Cohesion Studio to raise awareness of this fundraiser and honor the unique journey of our United States military veteran. As a veteran and a lifelong artist, I will paint a pair of boots and submit my work for inclusion in the Cohesion Gallery.  I invite you to join me.

Please consider participating in both endeavors. If you are interested in doing this, please contact Julie Fronckowiak, manager of marketing and development of the VOC.  Julie can be reached at 716-510-6182 or jfronckowiak@vocwny.org. And if you are a veteran and wish to have your work hung in the Cohesion Gallery, please contact Dan Arnold, Director of Engagement, at 716-898-0110 or Darnold@vocwny.org.

The latest estimate of Veteran suicides has increased to 33 veterans completing suicide a day.  This estimate is low as the Veteran Administration Medical Center (VAMC) is used to configure this. The numbers continue to rise. Not all veterans use the VAMC.  It is easy to blame the VAMC   for these suicides. However, most veterans do not live in the VAMC. We veterans live in communities across the nation, and how we are treated in our communities is the culprit.

Let us always cling to who fights our wars. Disproportional to their population, those men and women of color from humble beginnings join the military.   We must do better. I have been pushed from behind by someone knowing I am a veteran who wants to be on the news instead of me. I have also heeded the call in the middle of the night on more than one occasion to talk a veteran down after they were publicly shamed in person and on social media for being a combat veteran. I have nothing against Veterans for Peace, the Poor People’s Campaign, or those involved in these social justice organizations. I have walked beside or within both. Take note of the psychological fact the veterans within these organizations have found a socially acceptable way to deal with their moral l injuries and/or anger toward our government. Healing from life events is unique to that person.  

Oh yeah, Happy Fourth of July.