Betttina Roth, a Marine Corps veteran & Post 134 member was awarded first place for her needlework tapestry “Grace Through the Night” in the Original Design in Needlework category during the 2021 National Veterans Creative Arts Competition.
As described in a VA press release earlier this year the competition is, “Co-presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Auxiliary, the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) is the culmination of talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music for Veterans treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national health care system. Veterans exhibit their artwork and original writings or perform musical, dance or dramatic selections in a live stage show performance. All Veterans invited to participate are selected winners of year-long, national fine arts talent competitions in which thousands of Veterans enter, from VA medical facilities across the nation.
In 2021, nearly 2,000 Veterans from 118 VA medical facilities entered over 3,600 submissions in art, music, drama, dance and creative writing competitions. Of those, 142 Veterans earned an invitation to participate in the 2022 festival hosted by the Bay Pines VA Health Care System, held in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Auxiliary present the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition and Festival in a new city annually to raise the visibility of the creative achievements of our nation’s Veterans. The program is also supported by many other organizations both locally and nationally.”
This October VA facilities will send their top finalists in each category to the national level of the competition. Judging and selection will be in December.
Post 134 wishes Bettina the best of luck as she moves forward in the competition. Results will be posted at, www.creativeartsfestival.va.gov, in January 2023.
