Exhibit of Photos and Stories by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans	Print Issue
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The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is hosting From War to Home: Through the Veteran’s Lens, a photo exhibit exploring the impact of military service, deployment and homecoming, now through March 28.

On Thursday, February 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Penn Nursing will hold a panel discussion with veterans whose stories and photos are featured. The exhibit and panel discussion will take place in Claire M. Fagin Hall. Free and open to the public.

For this project, funded by the Veteran’s Association (VA), 40 veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan were given cameras and the opportunity to tell their stories.

From War to Home provides a window into the impact of military service on health and the stress of making the transition back to civilian life. The narratives also chronicle how veterans move forward with their education and professions and provide support and strength to each other. One of the goals of the exhibit is to improve healthcare and access to resources for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

The opening coincides with the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week organized by the VA Voluntary Service to recognize the more than 98,000 veterans who are cared for every day in VA facilities across the US.

From War to Home: Through the Veteran's Lens: (at left), one of the many photographs and narratives featured in the new exhibit and discussion focused on veterans at Penn's School of Nursing.

That's me and my brother Pete, sitting on Saddam's chair. Pete, he's dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder for a lot longer than I have. He was deployed as a combat medic. His squad was at a checkpoint and a Vehicle Borne IED came up, hit the armored M113 they had, threw it up in the air, and it landed on one of his friend's legs. It was Pete's job to save him. He lost three friends that night, and he's still not over it to this day. —Ray Facund