Where did you serve and what did you do?

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73), four years onboard, three deployments to the Med/Gulf followed by six and a half years at the White House doing telecommunications.

How are you Still Serving?

My wife and I have opened a DIY crafting studio (Hammer & Stain Paradise Valley www.hammerandstainpv.com) that encourages people to get involved with each other to do some therapeutic crafting. We partner with local Veteran organizations to provide a fun and healing space to get together.

Why do you do it?

Because of my own struggles with mental health I have found that arts and crafts help tremendously, especially when it's done in a social environment. I have attended a few arts classes through the VA, but it was always in the hospital environment, and it's nice to be able to have this space away from all of that to just have a good time. Also, all of our proceeds from the studio go to providing food and shelter for a Disabled Veteran and their Spouse (it's me and my wife, but it's still true).