Local veterans and service members are invited to a mask-making event next month that also will highlight recreational and occupational therapies and programs that are available to area vets.
AMVETS Post 509/Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1987 at 215 N. National Road in Columbus will host the event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13. Along with AMVETS/VFW, the event is also supported by Creative Arts for Vets, the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, American Legion and the Eskenazi Museum of Art.
The event is billed as “a wellness experience with art” and “an afternoon of fun, creativity, and self-expression using the art of mask-making.” The event is open to all veterans as well as those currently serving their country in the active duty military, National Guard or reserves. Those who come also are welcome to bring a friend or guest.
Local Marine Corps veteran Bill Hodapp was instrumental in organizing the event. In addition to mask-making, the event also will feature guests from the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis and others who will discuss the recreational and occupational therapies, programs and services available to veterans.
Among those, Hodapp said, is an extensive woodworking program in Indianapolis. Hodapp said he didn’t realize the extent of these programs until he was urged to participate in a VA art competition by Rick Caldwell, who has long been active in the local VFW.
“They’re wanting more people to be awakened to the idea that there are people that care about them. There are people trying to help,” Hodapp said of the sponsors and the VA programs.
Only in recent years has the value of arts and artistic expression for veterans been recognized. VFW post commander Gary Beatty said he’s looking forward to the event for a couple of reasons.
“Veterans, a lot of them have (post traumatic stress disorder), and this is a program that is supposed to do a lot to help them,” Beatty said. “I’m looking forward to finding out about that.”
Beatty said he’s also looking forward to getting the local post more active in the lives of veterans after COVID took a toll and limited the post’s ability to offer programs and events.
Veterans may register for the program at events.iu.edu/rural or at bit.ly/3TicS49.
