Gabriela Mejia grew up hearing stories about her grandfather, who served during WWII. These stories, passed down through the generations, instilled in Gabriela a deep respect for Veterans and their service, as well as a deep sense of patriotism.

As a young woman, Gabriela was a professional dancer with the Barefoot Hawaiians, and often volunteered to perform in Veteran Homes across the country. Because many of these Veterans served in Pearl Harbor, the opportunity to watch Gabriela and her Polynesian dance group brought back happy memories of their younger days and put a smile on their faces.

Gabriela went on to earn an art degree from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, with a specialization in watercolor. While she has moved on from her career as a professional dancer to become an art teacher, her passion for inspiring Veterans never faded.

Recently, she found a new opportunity to express this passion through an innovative online VA music therapy program, offered in collaboration with Challenge America. Over the last year, national Veteran nonprofit, Challenge America, joined forces with the VA to create and test an innovative online music therapy program that supports Veterans who struggle with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma. Leading this project is Heather Seymour, the Director of Community Partnerships and Communications at the Columbus VA Medical Center. This project also receives support from the Rural Veterans TeleRehabilitation Initiative, funded by VA’s Office of Rural Health. Over the course of a 12-month pilot project, this program serves Veterans across the country, stretching from coast to coast.

To enhance this program, Challenge America invited local artists to volunteer their time and talent to decorate the guitars it donates to the program participants. When Gabriela learned about this project from a friend, she signed up to decorate a guitar the same day. In addition to dancing and painting, Gabriela also loves music, so the opportunity to combine her artistic and philanthropic passions was one she could not pass up. Gabriela arranged to pick up her guitar later that week and set to work creating a design that infused her love of nature with patriotic themes, juxtaposing imagery of an eagle and the flag with a scene inspired by her home in Western Colorado.

For her efforts, Gabriela won the top prize in the Challenge America Guitar Design Competition. Gabriela simply hopes the guitar stirs positive memories and inspires positive actions, providing the Veteran a well-deserved sense of peace and calm. In her words, “Music is very healing. Even if you just pick up the guitar and strum, it can stir up positive feelings and motivation.” There is no doubt that the lucky Veteran who receives her guitar will feel both motivated and inspired.

To see many more inspired guitar designs from our volunteer artists, visit challengeamerica.com/decorated-guitars