The group recognized the necessity of providing Veterans a mission that would continue to engage them in a significant way. Unlike pre -existing “mission” focused Veteran organizations, they felt the returning Veteran community needed a permanent aspect to this new undertaking; one to which they could directly attach their names and bring their children and grandchildren to witness.
Operation Valor Arts co-founders, Randy Castriota and Allyson Holtz, both have strong family military ties. Holtz, an artist and great granddaughter of a Civil War Veteran, envisioned a Veteran- driven interpretative public art and civic engagement program could seamlessly dovetail with the needs Hogue outlined. She saw collaborative Veteran Design Teams using their personal experiences as inspiration for designs of large- scale outdoor sculpture and gardens. Their creative expression would function as a context in which to convey their stories and, process their experience of war while honoring the service men and women (and their families) who made the ultimate sacrifice.
