Meet the Veterans
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Ken Marlett, U.S. Army, 1980 - 2004.
Conrad Ruybal, U.S. Army, Vietnam War.
Damon Wagaman, U.S. Army, 1998 - 2004.
Joe Finnell, U.S. Army, 1968 - 1969.
Kelly Johnson, U.S. Navy, 1969 - 1975, Vietnam War.
Jim Gaertner, U.S. Army, 1969 - 1972.
Alice MacNaughton, U.S. Army, U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. Air National Guard, 22 years of service.
Carl Payne, U.S. Air Force, 1966 - 1967.
Rick Monteer, U.S. Army, 1969 - 1970, Vietnam War.
Chris Longdon, U.S. Marine Corps, 2006 - 2010.
Every member of the Guitars for Vets program or the Healing Box Project are veterans who have served in the U.S. military. Veterans of every age come to learn how to play the guitar, and enjoy the time spent with fellow veterans. Many members find camaraderie in the programs, because the veterans share experiences from his or her time in service, and offer support to one another.
While learning how to play the guitar, some members say that they also find joy that they thought they had lost.
"I hope I can keep going, because it’s like I'm healing. Especially on your really down days when you don’t have anything else, and you can’t get out that door. It pushes you out the door because you know it’s going to be a good day when you’re done. It’s uplifting," Veteran Kelly Johnson says.