Medal of Honor recipient joins local veteran for one year anniversary art show

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a gallery art show featuring the works of veteran and military family members on Saturday, August 10th from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts will be attendance to help welcome artists and guests.

Retired Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts, an advocate for the Cohen Veterans Network of clinics nationwide, attended the grand opening of their Clarksville location last summer. Now, in honor of the facility’s one-year anniversary, he is coming back to join team members as they salute the military artists who have provided over 70 works of art.

Pitts received the Medal of Honor in 2014 for his actions during the Battle of Wanat (2008) as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

“I think establishing a sense of community is absolutely critical,” Pitts said. “I think of my own service and when I talk to my brothers and sisters that have taken off the uniform, you know, what we miss the most is camaraderie. Giving people a place to come together and make those connections is important.”

To accomplish that mission, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic hosts community events such as art, yoga classes and family movie nights on a regular basis. These unique engagements helped to inspire the idea of an art show in the first place.

The Clinic has served for than 900 individuals from Tennessee in their first year.

“Not only do we have the opportunity to do truly amazing clinical work every single day, but what we are able to accomplish outside of therapy- in terms of hope, healing, and connecting people with social supports in creative ways, is equally as profound,” noted Clinic Director Lisa Eggebeen.

The One-Year Anniversary Art Show will feature works of various mediums including paintings, sculpture, and photography. Many of the works will be for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Clinic and the veterans they serve.

“We never want to see a veteran or a family member go without the care they need and believe cost should not be a barrier to receiving that care,” Ms. Eggebeen said. “Through philanthropic efforts like the Community Art Show we are able to provide services to those who otherwise may not be able to afford the help they’ve earned.”