Join Kathleen Ellertson, Founder and President of the Veteran Art Institute (VAI), as she shares the moving story behind the organization's mission. Inspired by her father, Clifford McMinn—a decorated WWII veteran who lived with the untreated "invisible wounds" of war—Kathleen explores how art serves as a vital tool for resilience, recovery, and communication.

This video traces the history of art therapy back to Adrian Hill in 1942 and highlights VAI’s commitment to supporting active-duty military and veterans through four core pillars:

• Lifesaving Art Therapy and Healing

• Coping and Recovery

• Community and Connection

• Purpose and Legacy

Discover how the VAI provides a barrier-free platform for veterans to share their stories, find camaraderie, and continue their service through creative expression. Because while a soldier may step out of the uniform, they never stop serving.