GLENN GAMBOA
Associated Press
NASHVILLE — Richard Casper shakes his head as he touches one of the boarded-up windows in the once-abandoned church he plans to transform into a new 24-hour arts center for veterans.
kAm%96 &]$] |2C:?6 r@CAD G6E6C2? 2?5 !FCA=6 w62CE C64:A:6?E D2:5 96 H2D 2? 2C>VD =6?8E9 2H2J 7C@> >:=:E2CJ @77:4:2=D[ :?4=F5:?8 s676?D6 $64C6E2CJ !6E6 w68D6E9[ 2E |2C:?6 q2CC24<D (2D9:?8E@? H96? 96 =62C?65 E96 7@C>6C 49FC49 9:D ?@?AC@7:E rC62E:'6ED ;FDE AFC492D65 925 366? G2?52=:K65]k^Am
kAm%96 A9JD:42= 52>286 E@ E96 3F:=5:?8 2?5 :ED DE2:?65 8=2DD H:?5@HD D2556?65 r2DA6C] qFE H92E H@CC:65 9:> >@C6 H2D E92E E96 49FC49 925 C6>2:?65 6>AEJ D:?46 a_`f H:E9@FE 52>286] %92E G2?52=:D> 42>6 ;FDE H66<D 27E6C rC62E:'6ED 3@F89E :E[ DF886DE:?8 E92E >2J36 96 2?5 E96 G6E6C2?D :? 9:D AC@8C2> H6C6 ?@E H6=4@>6]k^Am
Navy veteran Brooks Herring works on a piece of stained glass in the CreatiVets headquarters on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
kAmQx 2=>@DE ;FDE =67E[Q r2DA6C D2:5] QxE AFE >6 :? 2 H6:C5 9625DA246]Qk^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ r2DA6C[ c_[ 2 r}} w6C@6D H:??6C 2?5 t=6G2E6 !C:K6 H:??6C[ ?66565 >@C6 DFAA@CE 7@C E96 46?E6C — Q2 A=246 E@ 8@ H96? E96 !%$s 9:ED]Q {:<6 D@ >2?J G6E6C2?D[ 96 D2:5 9:D !%$s[ 42FD65 3J D66:?8 2 4=@D6 7C:6?5 5:6 @? A2EC@= :? xC2B[ H@F=5 86?6C2==J 4@>6 :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 ?:89E[ H96? E96 @?=J A=246D @A6? 2C6 32CD 2?5 @E96C DA246D E92E 42? 36 Q56DECF4E:G6]Qk^Am
kAmw6 7:8FC65 2 ac\9@FC 46?E6C H96C6 G6E6C2?D 4@F=5 6?8286 :? >FD:4[ A2:?E:?8[ D4F=AEFC6[ E962E6C 2?5 @E96C 2CED 4@F=5 96=A] xE 4@F=5 QEFC? 2== E92E A2:? :?E@ D@>6E9:?8 362FE:7F=]Q %96 2CE:DE:4 6=6>6?E 724E@C65 :? H96? r2DA6C[ H9@ DF776C65 2 EC2F>2E:4 3C2:? :?;FCJ H9:=6 D6CG:?8 :? xC2B[ C6EFC?65 9@>6 2?5 7@F?5 :E 92C5 E@ 36 :? AF3=:4 — F?=6DD 96 H2D =:DE6?:?8 E@ =:G6 >FD:4]k^Am
Army veteran Charles Elliott, bottom center, works on a piece of stained glass in the CreatiVets headquarters on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
kAm$@ 96 4@>A=6E65 9:D >:DD:@? E92E ?:89E :? (2D9:?8E@?[ :?EC@5F4:?8 ?6H A6@A=6 E@ rC62E:'6EDV H@C<] %96?[ r2DA6C C6EFC?65 E@ }2D9G:==6 E@ AC24E:46 H92E 96 92D AC624965 E@ 9F?5C65D @7 G6E6C2?D D:?46 9:D ?@?AC@7:E @A6?65 :? a_`b] w6 2D<65 7@C 96=A]k^Am
kAmp?5 96=A 42>6]k^Am
kAm(:E9:? H66<D[ rC62E:'6EDV pCE s:C64E@C %:> qC@H? H2D E6249:?8 2 C@@>7F= @7 G@=F?E66CD 9@H E@ 4C62E6 DE2:?65 8=2DD A:646D E@ C6A=246 E9@D6 E92E H6C6 G2?52=:K65] qC@H? D2:5 E96 G@=F?E66CD H2?E65 E@ 8:G6 324< E@ E96 @C82?:K2E:@?[ Q3FE 2=D@ 3642FD6 @7 E96 :>A24E E92E E96D6 24E:G:E:6D 92G6 925 @? E96>]Qk^Am
kAmv2CJ $:?:D6 36=:6G6D :? 2CEVD :>A24Ek^Am
kAmv2CJ $:?:D6 G2=F6D E92E :>A24E] %96 24E@C[ >FD:4:2? 2?5 A9:=2?E9C@A:DE 925 2=C625J D:8?65 @? E@ 5@?2E6 S` >:==:@? E9C@F89 9:D 7@F?52E:@? E@ 96=A rC62E:'6ED AFC492D6 E96 3F:=5:?8] $:?:D6VD :?G@=G6>6?E 6?4@FC2865 EH@ @E96C 5@?@CD E@ 96=A 7:?2=:K6 E96 AFC492D6]k^Am
Glass artist Martha Morales Purucker, left, helps Marine veteran Chase Huddleson as he works on a piece of stained glass in the CreatiVets headquarters on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
kAm%96 Qr$xi }*Q DE2C D2:5 96 36=:6G65 :? rC62E:'6EDV H@C< 2?5 925 2=C625J D66? 2 D:>:=2C AC@8C2> :? 9:D 9@>6E@H? @7 r9:428@ 96=A G6E6C2?D AC@46DD E96:C H2CE:>6 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am
kAmQx? E96 >:=:E2CJ[ J@FVC6 EC2:?65 E@ 5@ D6C:@FD H@C< E@ AC@E64E @FC 4@F?ECJ[ C:89EnQ $:?:D6 D2:5] Qx7 J@FVC6 :? E96 :?72?ECJ[ J@FVC6 36:?8 EC2:?65 E@ <:==] *@FVC6 36:?8 EC2:?65 E@ 4@?E2:? 2?J 6>@E:@? 2?5 36 DEC@?8]Qk^Am
kAm%9@D6 D<:==D 2C6 :>A@CE2?E H96? 7:89E:?8 E96 6?6>J[ 3FE E96J 2=D@ E2<6 2 E@==[ 6DA64:2==J H96? G6E6C2?D 2C6?VE E2F89E 9@H E@ 5:D4FDD E96:C 766=:?8D @?46 E96 H2C :D @G6C]k^Am
A church building, which will be the future home of the CreatiVets Art and Music Center, is shown on on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
kAmQ"F:E6 @7E6?[ @FC G6E6C2?D 5@?VE H2?E 2?J 96=A[Q $:?:D6 D2:5] QqFE E9C@F89 2CE — 2?5 H:E9 E962E6C 2D H6== — 24E:?8 @FE H92E E96J 2C6 8@:?8 E9C@F89 42? 36 G6CJ[ G6CJ 36?67:4:2=]Qk^Am
kAms2G:5 q@@E9 D2JD 96 :D =:G:?8 AC@@7 @7 9@H rC62E:'6ED 42? 96=A] p?5 E96 C6E:C65 >2DE6C D6C862?E[ H9@ D6CG65 a_ J62CD :? E96 &]$] pC>J 2D 2 >65:4 2?5 2 4@F?E6C:?E6==:86?46 286?E[ H:D96D 96 A2CE:4:A2E65 :? E96 AC@8C2> D@@?6C]k^Am
Listen now and subscribe: | | | |
kAmQu@C >6[ E9:D H2D >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? E96 =2DE J62C 2?5 2 92=7 @7 4@F?D6=:?8 E92E xVG6 8@?6 E9C@F89[Q D2:5 q@@E9] QxE 92D 366? D@ E96C2A6FE:4]Qk^Am
Gary Sinise talks about the Gary Sinise Foundation and his involvement with CreatiVets on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Franklin, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
kAmp7E6C J62CD @7 36:?8 2D<65[ q@@E9[ db[ 7:?2==J ;@:?65 rC62E:'6EDV D@?8HC:E:?8 AC@8C2> :? $6AE6>36C] w6 EC2G6=65 7C@> 9:D 9@>6 :? %96 ':==286D[ u=@C:52[ E@ E96 9:DE@C:4 vC2?5 ~=6 ~ACJ :? }2D9G:==6[ E@ >66E H:E9 EH@ DF446DD7F= D@?8HC:E6CD — qC:2? (9:E6[ H9@ 4@\HC@E6 y2D@? p=562?VD Qq=2>6 xE @? *@F[Q 2?5 rC2:8 r2>A36==[ @7 Q~FED<:CED @7 w62G6?Q 72>6 — E@ 96=A 9:> HC:E6 2 D@?8 23@FE 9:D =:76]k^Am
kAmq@@E9 E@=5 E96> 23@FE 9:D D6CG:46[ :?4=F5:?8 9:D :?;FCJ :? xC2B :? a__e H96? E96 G69:4=6 96 H2D :? DECF4< 2? :>AC@G:D65 6IA=@D:G6 56G:46 2?5 56E@?2E65 :E]k^Am
kAmw6 DF776C65 2 EC2F>2E:4 3C2:? :?;FCJ :? E96 6IA=@D:@?[ 2?5 :E E@@< >@?E9D @7 C6923 367@C6 96 4@F=5 H2=< 282:?] w:D 6?E:C6 46CG:42= DA:?6 :D 7FD65] w6 DE:== 86ED 6A:5FC2=D E@ C6=:6G6 E96 ?6CG6 A2:?] p?5 96 DE:== DF776CD 7C@> ?:89E>2C6D 2?5 !%$s]k^Am
Army veteran Clay Jensen, left, talks about events in his military career as songwriter Brian White, right, puts them into lyrics as they work in a dressing room in the Grand Ole Opry House as part of the CreatiVets program on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
kAmx? xC2B[ q@@E9VD F?:E H2D @?46 DFCC@F?565 3J <:5D 3642FD6 p>6C:42? D@=5:6CD FD65 E@ 8:G6 E96> y@==J #2?496C 42?5:6D] $?:A6CD D9@E E96 49:=5C6? :? 9@A6D E96 D@=5:6CD H@F=5 364@>6 62D:6C E2C86ED H96? E96J EC:65 E@ 96=A]k^Am
kAmQ%9:?8D =:<6 E92E DE:4< :? >J 9625[Q q@@E9 D2:5] Qw@H 5@ J@F 86E E96> @FEnQk^Am
kAmw6 2=D@ E@=5 E96> 23@FE 9:D 56D:C6 7@C 2 A@D:E:G6 >6DD286 2?5 r@>32E '6E6C2?D E@ r2C66CD[ E96 G6E6C2? DFAA@CE ?@?AC@7:E 96 7@F?565] %9@D6 6IA6C:6?46D 3642>6 E96 D@?8 Q(92EVD }6IE]Qk^Am
kAmq@@E9 9@A6D Q(92EVD }6IEQ 364@>6D 2G2:=23=6 @? >FD:4 DEC62>:?8 D6CG:46D D@ @E96CD 42? 962C 9:D DE@CJ] rC62E:'6ED 92D C6=62D65 4@>A:=2E:@?D @7 :ED G6E6C2?DV D@?8D D:?46 a_a_ :? 4@@A6C2E:@? H:E9 q:8 |249:?6 {236= vC@FA[ %2J=@C $H:7EVD 7:CDE C64@C5 =236=] %9:D J62CVD 4@==64E:@? H2D C6=62D65 uC:52J]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 2=>@DE =:<6 E96J 4@F=5 766= H92E x H2D 766=:?8 2?5 AFE :E :?E@ E96 =JC:4D[Q D2:5 q@@E9[ 27E6C 962C:?8 E96 7:?:D965 G6CD:@?] QxE H2D AC6EEJ DFCC62= 2?5 AC6EEJ 2H6D@>6]Qk^Am
kAm(9J {E] s2? 7C@> Vu@CC6DE vF>AV =2F?4965 2 ?@?AC@7:Ek^Am
kAm$:?:D6 92D D66? E96 F?6IA64E65 :>A24E @7 2CE E9C@F89@FE 9:D 42C66C] w:D ~D42C\?@>:?2E65 C@=6 2D H@F?565 ':6E?2> G6E6C2? {E] s2? %2J=@C :? Qu@CC6DE vF>AQ :? `hhc 566A6?65 9:D 4@??64E:@? E@ G6E6C2?D] w:D >FD:4 H:E9 E96 {E] s2? q2?5 6IA2?565 :E] x? a_``[ 96 =2F?4965 E96 v2CJ $:?:D6 u@F?52E:@? E@ 3C@25=J D6CG6 G6E6C2?D[ 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D]k^Am
kAmQx E9:?< 4:E:K6?D 92G6 2 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 E96:C 5676?56CD[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96C6 2C6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D @FE E96C6 7@C 2== @7 FD E@ 5@ E92E 2?5 @?6 @7 E96 H2JD E@ 5@ :E :D E9C@F89 >F=E:A=6 ?@?AC@7:ED E92E 2C6 @FE E96C6]Qk^Am
kAm$:?:D6 :>>65:2E6=J 4@??64E65 H:E9 rC62E:'6EDV >:DD:@?] (96? E96 :562 42>6 E@ 565:42E6 E96 A6C7@C>2?46 DA246 2E E96 ?6H 46?E6C E@ 9:D =2E6 D@? |24[ H9@ 5:65 =2DE J62C 27E6C 2 =@?8 32EE=6 H:E9 42?46C[ $:?:D6 D2H :E 2D Q2 A6C764E DJ?6C8J]Qk^Am
kAmQ|24 H2D 2 8C62E 2CE:DE[Q 96 D2:5] Qp?5 96 H2D 2 9F>3=6[ <:?5 @7 BF:6E[ 4C62E:G6 7@C46… x7 |24 H@F=5 92G6 DFCG:G65 2?5 ?@E 8@?6 E9C@F89 H92E 96 H6?E E9C@F89[ 96V5 36 @?6 @7 @FC J@F?8 =6256CD 96C6 2E E96 7@F?52E:@?] w6 H@F=5 36 4@>A@D:?8 >FD:4 2?5 96V5 36 96=A:?8 G6E6C2?D]Qk^Am
kAm|24 $:?:D6 :D DE:== 96=A:?8 G6E6C2?D[ 2D AC@4665D @7 9:D 2=3F> Q#6DFCC64E:@? U2>Aj #6G:G2=Q 2?5 :ED D6BF6= 4@>A=6E65 27E6C 9:D 562E9[ 2C6 8@:?8 E@ E96 v2CJ $:?:D6 u@F?52E:@?] p?5 v2CJ $:?:D6 D2:5 96 5:D4@G6C65 >@C6 4@>A@D:E:@?D 7C@> 9:D D@? E92E 96 A=2?D E@ C64@C5 =2E6C E9:D J62C 7@C 2 E9:C5 2=3F>]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 ?6H 46?E6C H2D G2?52=:K65[ r2DA6C D2:5 96 H2D 962CE3C@<6?[ 3FE 2=D@ :?DA:C65 <?@H:?8 A2CE @7 E96 46?E6C H2D 56DE:?65 E@ 364@>6 E96 |24 $:?:D6 pF5:E@C:F>] w6 564:565 E@ E2<6 A:646D @7 E96 3C@<6? DE2:?65 8=2DD H:?5@HD 2?5 EC2?D7@C> E96> :?E@ ?6H 2CEH@C< :?DA:C65 3J |24 $:?:D6VD >FD:4]k^Am
kAmQx E@=5 J@F H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 23@G6 2?5 36J@?5 E@ >2<6 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 <?@HD |24 =:G65[Q r2DA6C E@=5 $:?:D6 2D 96 92?565 9:> DE2:?65 8=2DD A2?6D :?DA:C65 3J |24 $:?:D6VD D@?8D QpC4E:4 r:C4=6DQ 2?5 Q!6?8F:? s2?46[Q Q?@E E92E 96 5:65[ 3FE E92E 96 =:G65]Qk^Am
kAm$:?:D6 7@F89E 324< E62CD 2D 96 D2:5[ Q|J 8@D9[ E92EVD 362FE:7F=]Qk^Am
kAmpD 96 6I2>:?65 E96 A:646D >@C6 4=@D6=J[ $:?:D6 25565[ QxV> 9@?@C65 E92E H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E9:D A=246 @G6C E96C6 2?5 E92E |24 :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 DFAA@CE:?8 #:492C5 2?5 96=A:?8 G6E6C2?D]Qk^Am
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, a day to honor the people who have served in the armed forces.
Fox - Seattle
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
