Jason Whitaker stands in Balad Air Base, Iraq in 2008. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — This Veteran’s Day, an art show and one-man play will be held in Shepherdstown, with the purpose of “Honoring Our Veterans.”

The Honoring Our Veterans event is being organized by Shepherdstown Community Club President Carrie Blessing and U.S. Air Force veteran Jason Whitaker.

At 5:30 p.m., Whitaker and other local veterans will be putting their visual artwork on display on the first floor of the War Memorial Building. The art show will be paired with an artist reception and followed, at 8 p.m., by a free performance on the second floor of the building by Whitaker, who will be presenting an adaptation of the play, “Every Brilliant Thing,” by Duncan Mac Millan and Jonny Donahoe.

“We’re celebrating veterans that do art!” Whitaker said, mentioning the improvisational play addresses themes relevant to veterans and civilians alike. “I just want to celebrate that we are veterans and we can do these things.”

Whitaker served two tours in Iraq, retiring as a senior airman in 2010. But even after leaving the military, Whitaker’s experiences as a weapons technician in a war zone followed him, in the forms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“When we were over there, I would load and arm and test the functionality of these bombs. It was tough, because sometimes they would come back and the airplane wouldn’t have any bombs on it,” Whitaker said. “There were several times of things similar to that, that were just striking — alongside mortar fire and car bombs.”

In his journey toward healing from this trauma, Whitaker began going to therapy and engaging in art therapy, including improvisational theater classes. His newfound love for theater led him to quit his job, so that he could pursue the art more fully with the help of the G.I. Bill. He graduated in May from Shepherd University, with a bachelor’s degree in contemporary theater. He is now enrolled in the master’s degree program in performing arts leadership and management at Shenandoah University.

“Art can really heal!” Whitaker said. “Before I was doing these art programs, I was definitely struggling. Ever since I have started some of these things, it has increasingly gotten better and better and I am feeling more fulfilled.”