TAMPA, Fla. — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and for nearly 15 years, the Clothesline Project has displayed T-shirts with designs made by veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma.  

What You Need To Know

  • The Clothesline Project is more than 160 shirts designed by military sexual trauma survivors

  •  Each shirt has its own design and message

  • Lisa Shoemaker, the creator of the Clothesline Project, said one of every three women and one of every 50 men have reported military sexual trauma to a VA provider

For Navy veteran Nancy Ross, the designs and messages on the more than 160 shirts displayed resonate with her. 

"There are a lot of people trying to survive from this that are trying to heal and overcome these traumatic interruptions in their lives," she said. 

Ross is a survivor, but for decades, her story was hidden away. 

After serving in the Navy for seven years, she was honorably discharged but the trauma that led to her discharge stuck with her.

"For about 20 years I stayed on drugs and alcohol," she said. "Homeless, walking streets and it just got so painful." 

Ross said the isolation that she felt for years isn't there anymore. She's gotten help from the VA and shares her story with others to raise awareness.

Lisa Shoemaker, the creator of the Clothesline Project, said one of every three women and one of every 50 men have reported military sexual trauma to a VA provider. 

With so many affected, she wanted to find a way to show veterans that they are not alone. 

"Once they got on the path to recovery and healing they wanted to be able to reach out to their buddies and bring the next one into healing and recovery. I was trying to think, how could I get their voice out to more and more people?" 

Every year, more shirts are added to the clothesline that now stretches around 200 feet.

As Ross took a final look, she said she believes it's through this kind of visibility that change will come. 

"They're my sisters and brothers," she said. "I'm not alone."