Bay Pines VA Veterans Create Vibrant Contribution for CLC
U.S. Army Veterans Joel Bancroft and Mike Welsh both belong to the population of brave Americans who Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is proud to serve but, until recently, they were strangers to each other.
Despite this, they came to discover they are bonded by a passion for creating and the affection they have for their brothers and sisters in arms.
In June 2024, a physical representation of these unifying qualities was proudly unveiled in the form of two murals that will be installed in front of the Community Living Center (CLC) on the C.W.Y. campus.
“This is the type of project that allows me to pay it forward to the VA and other Veterans,” Bancroft, a 77-year-old combat-Vietnam Veteran shared. “I haven’t created something this large before and it took a while to get it just right because I kept thinking ‘what would I enjoy the most?’ I came up with a scenic sea-landscape and I really strived to make sure it was something beautiful.”
The latest editions to the façade of the residential building serve as a replacement for the murals that were previously on display. Once staff recognized there was a need to beautify the space, it didn’t take long to find artists who were willing to take on the task.
“I asked Veterans in my therapy groups if they would be interested in volunteering for this project and, because it benefits fellow Veterans, Mr. Bancroft and Mr. Welsh said yes without hesitation,” said Bay Pines VA Creative Arts Therapist Lorraine Vitale. “There is a camaraderie and respect that exists among Veterans, which is why I think it’s so meaningful for them to be able to display kindness toward one another.”
The CLC is a VA nursing home where Veterans in need of specialized care may stay for a short time or, in some instances, for the rest of their lives. For Welsh, the difficult reality of assisted-living struck close to home.
“I took a big interest in this because I had a crisis of a time watching my mother go through end-of-life care,” Welsh shared. “When Lori told me about this, I knew immediately that I wanted to paint something that causes the Veteran or family member to forget where they are, forget about their conditions and just look at the painting and find joy.”
Welsh opted to create a perspective piece of a lake framed by a hyper-realistic forest; his hope is that when people view the painting, they will get a sense that they’re truly present in that space.
Although these murals were created separately from the art therapy programs the Veterans participate in, both men find themselves in a state of gratitude for what they’ve gained through serving others.
“Serving to me is realizing that there’s something better than yourself and putting your own needs aside to support that,” Welsh said. “The positive impact of discovering my artistic abilities has bled into other areas of my life. Now, I can say I’m an artist and that descriptor has been an important part of me rebuilding my identity.”