Build A Vet A Guitar

By George Vondriska

Posted: June 25, 2010

Guitars For Vets

The first guitar I built, back in 2006, that got me on the road to loving guitar.

I started playing guitar in 2006 with a simple goal. I wanted to be able to play Puff The Magic Dragon for my kids. Four years later I’m past that goal and have found the guitar to be a big part of my life. Don’t know what it is, but I feel like if I don’t play, at least a little, every day, I’m missing something.

So when I heard about an organization called Guitars For Vets I was intrigued. With a little research I learned that this group’s goal is to put acoustic guitars and lessons in the hands of vets with post traumatic stress disorder. They’re doing a great job, having placed over 600 guitars and 3600 lessons. Their tagline is “The healing power of music in the hands of heroes.” I understood it instantly. There’s just something about playing a guitar, and I can definitely see the therapeutic side.

I met with G4V’s organizers, Patrick Nettesheim and Dan Van Buskirk, a few times, one thing lead to another, and an idea was born.

Build A Vet A Guitar

With a G4V chapter soon to open in Minneapolis we decided, ambitiously, to kick off the chapter with a guitar building event. Build A Vet A Guitar was born. Here’s the deal. On July 16 and 17 we’ll be assembling, sanding, finishing and setting up 20 guitar kits. I know it sounds like a crazy amount of work, but I’m confident we can do it. I’m hosting the build at my school in Hudson, WI. This is going to be a great couple of days, and we’d love to have you here. Even if you’ve never built a guitar, you’ll be able to help out.

If you’ve got a guitar around that you no longer play, bring it and donate it to G4V. Cash donations are always appreciated, too. You can also learn more about G4V and the work they’re doing, hang out with lots of other great people, even bring your own instrument and participate in the Open Mic tent. This is way more than just a woodworking event. It’s a picnic/open house/help-out-a-great-group event. Can I entice you with food? We’ll give you lunch both days.

See You There?

Dan Van Buskirk and Patrick Nettesheim, founders of G4V, receiving a handful of donated guitars.

We’ll be working 9-5 on Friday, and 9-whenever on Saturday. You can learn more about Guitars For Vets at their website (www.guitarsforvets.org), and get directions to my school on my web site, (www.aboutwildearth.com). If you’re able to, please come and participate in this event. You can also download a flyer about the event. Please post it any place you can, and spread the word.