© 2026 WEKU
NPR for Central and Eastern Kentucky
Support WEKU!
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The 1850 campaign is replacing lost federal funds one supporter at a time. Thanks to our listeners and supporters, we are now just 125 away from reaching this goal of 1850 new supporters donating at least $10 a month. Click here to join the campaign!

On a VA medical campus, one veteran created an escape for others

NPR | By Quil Lawrence
Published June 5, 2026 at 4:44 AM EDT

Through years of controversy and delayed construction, one Iraq veteran has been rehabilitating a Japanese garden in the middle of the on the vast VA campus in West Los Angeles.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Quil Lawrence
Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.
See stories by Quil Lawrence
Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism
WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.
Contribute now
Related Content