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26 December 4, 2015 Desert Lightning News
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Art therapy provides lifeline for wounded warriors
By Terri Moon CronkDoD News emotions are complex issues,” the (DoD photo by Marc Barnes)
assistant secretary said.
Defense Media Activity Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Meadows and Jackie Biggs discuss a painting during an art therapy
“Today is a celebration of recov- session at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital’s traumatic brain injury clinic at Fort Belvoir, Va., Dec.
WASHINGTON — Service ery and rehabilitation,” he said, not- 19, 2014. Meadows, assigned to Fort Belvoir’s Warrior Transition Battalion, suffered a traumatic
members who take part in art ther- ing that the celebration includes brain injury in 2012 when his vehicle rode over an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
apy to soothe the symptoms of war’s the expanding partnership of the Biggs is an art therapist, and manages the program for Wounded Warriors in the TBI clinic.
invisible wounds display acts of Military Healing Arts partnership
courage and resilience to put them between the Defense Department therapy was a key part of their assistant secretary of defense for
in control of their lives, the assistant and the National Endowment for
secretary of defense for health af- the Arts as part of the Warrior Care recovery and rehabilitation, ex- warrior care and policy.
fairs said today. Month observance.
plained James Rodriguez, deputy See THERAPY, Page 27
Speaking at the 2015 Wounded NEA Supports DoD to Heal the
Warrior Healing Arts Recognition Wounded
“Show of Strength” event at the
Pentagon, Dr. Jonathan Woodson The NEA supports music, writ-
said service members, profession- ing and visual art therapy at military
als, families and other caregivers care facilities for those who might
have critical roles by supporting art not benefit from traditional thera-
therapy and ensuring its success. py, Woodson said, adding that the
partnership represents some of the
Woodson said a wide variety of “finest institutions in America com-
wounded service members’ “mu- ing together to aid in the healing of
seum quality” art on display at the wounded warriors.”
event caught his eye.
Nine service members whose
“I was reminded of the infinite artwork was displayed received
potential of art to assess the human certificates of recognition for ar-
emotion, access the human emo- tistic achievement. Healing-arts
tion, and exploring … to understand
