The 2017 Wounded Warrior Healing Arts exhibit is now on display at the Pentagon.

The exhibit features a variety of therapeutic art from several service members who have been involved with healing arts therapy programs.
"'One of lessons we took away from 15 years of war … is we realized there's much more than fixing a person's physical ability and injury," Navy Vice Adm. (Dr.) Raquel C. Bono said in a press release.

Therapeutic art programs have been used by the military since 2010 when the National Intrepid Center of Excellence healing arts program began at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The programs have proven to help those with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury cope with the symptoms while also helping the medical community understand and treat the conditions. 

Typically, using art therapy to cope with these disorders includes the surrounding community as well as the affected service member, Bono said, "l see it has a profound impact not only on your own healing, but to rest of community in terms of understanding and appreciation."

Bono commended the artists for sharing their artwork saying that the exhibit is "an incredibly powerful way to express their messages that often cannot be put into words." 

"I want people to know who you are and what you've done," Bono told the artists, according to the press release. "I thank you all for sharing, because I know this is a deeply personal part of who you are and what you've experienced."

About Rachael Kalinyak

Rachael Kalinyak is an editorial intern with Network Solutions.

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