Just recently I had a fantastic rare opportunity to interview Guitars For Vets whom are making a difference in many communities to reach out to many Veterans, for helping and healing. There is a huge growing nationwide demand for this program tune in and listen!











A Little Bit About Guitars For Vets

Dan Van Buskirk, a Vietnam Veteran, has always been passionate about helping Vets. While Dan was taking guitar lessons from Patrick Nettesheim, he began to recognize a significant improvement with his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). That is when the idea was born. Together they started Guitars For Vets, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that enhances the lives of ailing and injured Vets by providing them with free guitars and music instruction.

The first classes started at the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI in 2007, with the intent that self-expression through music would help restore the feelings of joy and purpose that can be lost after suffering trauma. G4V is expanding to other VA Medical Centers, with program requests coming in from across America. Your support of this mission will bring joy and peace to many.

In May of 2007 Patrick Nettesheim was teaching Dan Van Buskirk his guitar lesson when they started chatting about how much playing the guitar has helped Dan manage his Vietnam born PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Dan felt that it gave him focus and a great sense of happiness. They speculated that other Vets with PTSD might benefit from this meditation in motion.

Great idea! It was then that Pat told Dan a story about an entire song that he had recently composed while lying down with his eyes closed. The relevance of this was, that even injured Vets who could not sit up, might learn how to play the guitar and find joy in it. Dan then said something to the order of “It would be really powerful if we could get some guitars for these men and women.” And then Pat simply countered with, “Why don’t we start an organization called Guitars for Vets? Its the healing power of music in the hands of heroes.” They did.

Donated guitars are either presented to the Vets or sold in order to raise funds for the program. Donated guitars that are unrepairable are turned into art guitars by artists and sold at G4V events. Monetary contributions and instrument donations are tax deductible. Your gift will make a difference!

There is a nationwide demand for this program. Our latest event ~ Rock the Rumble"- a benefit concert held on April 23rd at the Harley-Davidson Museum (info & poster on website) was our national kickoff, where we also announced other facets of fundraising - such as the Art Strings program - "e.g." donated guitars that are unrepairable are turned into art guitars by local artists and sold at G4V events and eventually online.

G4V has chapters located in: Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, Wisconsin and Iraq with California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Afghanistan set to be active by mid-year. Currently, there are requests from over 50 VA Medical Centers throughout the nation. We establish chapters as funding allows.

Patrick Nettesheim
Vice President
GUITARS FOR VETS, Inc.
414-339-3648
www.guitarsforvets.org