St. Cloud VA Gives Survivors Of Military Sexual Violence A Voice [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD -- The St. Cloud VA hosted a Clothesline Project Wednesday to give survivors of sexual violence in the military a way to have their stories heard.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator Joy Finkelson says the Clothesline Project included over 50 tee shirts that were decorated by victims of sexual violence.

"We give Veterans -- male and female -- an opportunity to decorate the tee shirts as a way to begin that healing process," Finkelson says.

"For some, it's the first time they've started talking about their military sexual trauma."

Finkelson says 1 out of 4 women in the military experience sexual trauma.

"[This project gives] a voice to people who have maybe kept silent all these years and lets people know that it's OK to come forward and the VA is here to assist with that."