Making healing art for heroes’ hearts

Cherry Hill resident Amy Bash brought the Healing Art for a Hero’s Heart card-making program earlier this month to the township library, where about 100 holiday cards were created for deployed members of the military.

Participants learned two watercolor techniques and were supplied materials to make their own cards or use a template. Though Bash has held the event in Voorhees at that township’s art center and in neighboring towns, the library program was the first time card making came to Cherry Hill. Bash felt it was a good fit to partner with the library, especially since it has a Veteran’s Wall of Fame.

Bash said the library event had the largest number of registered guests she’s seen so far compared with other events that she’s held. The cards will reach their recipients around the holiday season. Healing Art for a Hero’s Heart was originally started by Bash in 2019.

“I originated it because my husband was going to deploy to Kuwait from December 2018 to 2020,” she recalled. “He was deployed during the pandemic and it really hit home that none of these service men and women were going to be home for the holidays.”

In the last five years, Bash estimates more than 1,000 letters have been made and sent. As in the past, Bash worked with Beth Masiado of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who created embroidered stars from flags that were damaged, tattered, torn or mildewed and no longer fit to be flown. She washed, dried and cut stars from the flag, then sent them with a message of gratitude and encouragement.

Bash includes a star and the message with the mailed letters.

“My husband has said, no matter whether it’s from a child, or whether it’s from a veteran or a spouse or a neighbor, it’s just nice to know that they’re thought of,” she noted. ” … It brings a sense of nostalgia, a connection to their civilian life, because when they’re deployed, whether it’s 10 months or longer, or a bit shorter, their daily life has completely changed.”