Volume 4: The Next Step

Volume 4: The Next Step was published in 2023 as a full-color book and touring exhibition, a continuation of the healing process that began more than a decade prior. It shows a maturation of ideals: honing in on the common ground we all share. Volume 4 represents an expansion of the organization’s reach, creating more than 50000 individual experiences across the Southeast U.S., and demonstrating the healing power of art and storytelling. We share this lens into service; Volume 4: The Next Step is but a glimpse of what is to come.

You can purchase Volume 4: The Next Step exclusively through our web store.

Gallery

The Next Step

Join us for an art and story telling experience, featuring collaborations between veterans and civilian writers and artists.

Bullets and Bandaids – Volume 4: The Next Step is a continuance of our living anthology, this time with 115 participants, stories ranging from WW II to the civilian experience of having veterans in their lives, and a massive swath of different artforms, from oils and acrylics to sculptures and knives. We have participants from Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine, and more.

We haven’t just done this to convince everyone that we’re sharing a common human journey, and with that understanding, a sense of support and responsibility for those around you. We do this simply to remind everyone, as we’ve done three times before, each time adding and changing aspects in order to fully highlight the stories our veteran participants have had the bravery to tell.

Some people have said what we do is impossible. Our organization not only shows it’s possible, we show it is necessary.

Support veterans, support local artists and writers, and help heal the community. 

Veterans’ Stories

• “That Goddamned Beach“, inspired by Michael Calabrese, written by Michael Calabrese
• “The Decorated Rebel“, inspired by Michael Pumphrey, written by Ron Osso
• “For Kelly“, inspired by Steven McAllister, written by Ella Shawn
• “Inalienable Rites“, inspired by Frederick Marx, written by Robert LeHeup
• “The Periphery, The Center“, inspired by William Rommel, written by Susan Lenz
• “The Good Marine“, inspired by Ethan Gardner, written by Carlton Clayton
• “Choice Hero“, inspired by Katie Willingham, written by Tanisha “Queen It Shall Be” Hall
• “The Game“, inspired by Thadeus Jones Sr., written by James Krause
• “The Jaeger Diary“, inspired by Shawn Dickens, written by Doc Dickens
• “My First 6 Days in the Bush“, inspired by Stephen Henderson, written by Stephen Henderson
• “The Military as a Test Kitchen“, inspired by Robert Cash, written by Vivian Bikulege
• “Eye, Tongue, Purple Heart“, inspired by Zia Ghafoori, written by Ed Madden
• “At the Top of His Game“, inspired by Carlton Clayton, written by Trish Stukbauer
• “Velvet“, inspired by Velvet Underwood, written by Susan Lenz
• “The Bridge in Donesk“, inspired by Sergio Alacorn, written by Compton Bailey
• “The Endless Little Snaps and Pops“, inspired by Kevin Brewer, written by Kristine Hartvigsen
• “Picture This“, inspired by Christopher Pace, written by David Wiseman
• “The Airborne Ranger and the Butterflies“, inspired by George Fields, written by Ron Osso
• “Forever Faithful, Semper Fidelis“, inspired by Sean Lowe, written by Joseph Roussell
• “Christmas Eve, 1971“, inspired by Ron Toler, written by Ron Toler
• “Sojourn for Self“, inspired by Jesse Gould, written by James Krause
• “Small Talk with God“, inspired by Jared Rineheart, written by Cameron Lovejoy
• “Welcome Home Troops“, inspired by Sue Rebar, written by Ron Osso
• “The Compassionate Warrior“, inspired by Larry Dandridge, written by Ron Osso
• “Our Journey“, inspired by Midge Lorenc, written by Midge Lorenc
• “The Juan and Only“, inspired by Juan Reyes, written by Katrina Byrd
• “The Masks We Wear“, inspired by Carlos Pagan, written by Shawn Dickens
• “A Silence Worse than Deafening“, inspired by Hazel Goldman, written by Robert LeHeup
• “Mushroom Cloud“, inspired by Charlie Pacello, written by 
• “Where I’m from to Where I Was Destined to Be“, inspired by Allan Perkal, written by Allan Perkal
• “Tough G.I. Joe Girl“, inspired by Jackie Holmes, written by Kristine Hartvigsen
• “Fierce: A Profile in Courage“, inspired by Michelle Rosenthal, written by Katrina Byrd
• “Intake“, inspired by Laura Lea Lybrand, written by Michael Bondhus
• “Ask a Veteran“, inspired by Ted Minnick, written by Ted Minnick
• “Boom“, inspired by Tony Fiteni, written by Susan Lenz
• “No Snow Over There“, inspired by Bruce Turek, written by Bruce Turek
• “The Day of the Mission“, inspired by Bahrouz Mahmond, written by Ruben Jager
• “Bear Claw Boy“, inspired by Will Crossan, written by Katrina Byrd
• “The Siege“, inspired by Mary Ann Lane, written by Julyan Davis
• “In Our Minds, Hearts, and Actions“, inspired by Ana Sazanov, written by Susan Lenz
• “Veterans Helping Veterans“, inspired by Tom Baker, written by Tom Baker
• “The Kharwar Diary: A Delve into the Madness on the Edge of Sanity“, inspired by Jason Kenney, written by Shawn Dickens
• “What If?“, inspired by Andy Rodgers, written by Cat Fitz
• “The General and the Sergeant-Major“, inspired by Lou Christine, written by Lou Christine
• “Whatever Happened?“, inspired by Bobbie Gail, written by Bobbie Gail

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