Southern Utah Veterans Association to open groundbreaking support center in Iron County

CEDAR CITY — In the quiet of the evening, Air Force veteran Joel Zander sits on his porch, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Memories of his time in Saigon run through his mind, the sacrifices he made in service to his country.

Joel Zander of Southern Utah Veterans Association discusses goals set at the site of a planned Veterans Creative Arts Center on a 20-acre site in Enoch, Utah, Feb. 9, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“You never forget war. I still remember the smell of dead bodies,” Zander reflects, his voice barely above a whisper. “After all these years, it’s like I’m still there sometimes.”

Years after returning home, Zander still wrestles with the enduring specter of war, a phenomenon commonly referred to as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Like countless others, Zander grapples with this mental health condition triggered by exposure to traumatic events. Symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety and intrusive thoughts, all of which significantly impact daily life.

The Southern Utah Veterans Association is leading the charge to establish a pioneering PTSD center in Enoch, dedicated to bridging the gaps in mental health care. This center will cater not only to veterans but also to first responders, children, and individuals affected by suicide attempts.

Association founder Chuck Waddell, a retired US Navy Chief steel worker and diver, believes it’s important to address what he calls “a mental health crisis.” 

Chuck Waddell, president of Southern Utah Veterans Association, presents a new flag to a Civil Air Patrol cadet at Cedar City Veterans Park, Cedar City, Utah, June 14, 2023 | File photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“We are currently facing a mental health epidemic that is affecting many of our veterans in Southern Utah but also so many of our youth and first responders,” Waddell said. “The most effective treatment is creating a community that builds relationships and allows people to find relief by participating in the creative arts.”

Zander agrees, expressing that he experienced a profound sense of isolation before forming a friendship with Waddell, who engaged him in local support activities. Before that, he spent a great deal of time metalworking, which he said helped him process his inner thoughts.

“My friendship with Chuck and getting busy with this PTSD center and SUVA really helped give me a sense of belonging,” he said. “I used to spend hours doing metalwork and just thinking. It really helped me with my thoughts and my emotions. I truly believe working with our hands is important to healing.”

Group members envision the center as a hub for creative arts-based therapy, offering programs such as glasswork, ceramics, sculptures, sewing, metalwork, woodworking, and painting. Through these expressive mediums, individuals will have the opportunity to explore their emotions, process trauma, and foster a sense of connection.

A metal sculpture by local artist Jacob Dean, entitled “PTS Man,” currently on display at the IFA store in Cedar City is envisioned to be installed at the Southern Utah Veterans Association’s facility in Enoch, surrounded by a wave of 80,000 shell casings fused together, representing veterans lost to suicide, Cedar City, Utah, April 23, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The proposed center is designed to span 35,000 square feet and on a 20-acre piece of property, providing ample space for therapeutic activities and outdoor amenities. 

“The sense of community built while engaging in the creative arts is so important to helping PTSD sufferers get out of their isolation,” Waddell said.

The centerpiece of the center will be a poignant sculpture representing the effects of Post Traumatic Stress on human beings. 

This sculpture, commissioned by Southern Utah Veterans Association members, serves as a powerful symbol of the physical and mental toll of PTSD. With the heart in one hand and the brain in the other, the sculpture vividly captures the profound impact of trauma on individuals’ well-being.

Waddell said the organization has partnered with a local developer to acquire 20 acres of prime property at a significantly reduced price, laying the groundwork for the construction of the PTSD center.

Discussions are also underway with the Veterans Administration regarding the possibility of establishing a clinic adjacent to the site, enhancing access to medical services for veterans in the region.

“We are aware that this is an ambitious undertaking, but it needs to be done to preserve the lives of our citizens and our rural underserved community,” Waddell said. “By providing a central place for participation in the creative arts, we hope to offer a lifeline to those struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues.”

As Southern Utah Veterans Association members press forward with plans, the organization is actively engaging with stakeholders, including Veterans Services Officers, local representatives and educational institutions to ensure the center’s completion. For more information or to donate, click here to visit the website.

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