About the Project 

How can we help veterans feel seen, heard, and supported in their communities? This new mural from James Burns offers ideas, opening up conversations about veterans’ experiences, expressing their pride in service, and honoring their incredible resilience. Through workshops, resource fairs, and paint days, this ongoing project helps veterans develop their self-expression and artistic talents—telling their own stories of struggle and strength, and coming together in the journey toward wellness. Facing the bustling corridor of University Avenue, a wall on the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center will feature images of the building’s namesake, project participants, and the artist’s own father, who was a Vietnam War veteran.