Guitar donation from Cape Henlopen Elks to help local veterans

At the Cape Henlopen Elks Veterans Committee meeting Jan. 11, member Mary Ruggiero presented Frets4Vets with an Ibanez guitar and amplifier valued at $500.

The donation will go a long way in helping local veterans participating in the Frets4Vets program, which routinely provides 16 weeks of guitar instruction for veterans diagnosed with PTSD and/or depression. At the successful completion of the program, veterans are presented with a diploma package that includes a brand new, handmade-in-the-USA, electric guitar, that is theirs to keep. A veteran can then choose to continue the music instruction and participate with other graduates of the program. With continued progression, veterans may be offered the chance to teach what they have learned to new students. In addition, they will also get an assessment once monthly to track the progression of their PTSD or depression to help determine if they need to be referred to any mental health specialists to further their recovery.


The Veterans Committee of Cape Henlopen Elks regularly donates to the Frets4Vets program as it is specifically designed to help local veterans focus their minds in a positive direction and prevent soldier suicide by teaching coping mechanisms through music instrument instruction.