In this week’s installation of Fallujah, the first ever opera on the Iraq War, catch a behind-the-scenes look at “What is One?“ arguably the most compelling piece of music in the opera — a heart-wrenching account from a Marine questioning his return home. You can also watch the full scene, including its tragic ending.

After returning from the battlefields of Iraq, Christian Ellis found the only way to soothe the war wounds in his soul was by losing himself singing opera’s powerful, haunting songs.

Now the 29-year-old former Marine machine gunner— who has attempted suicide four times — is putting his pain on stage in the first opera believed written about the war: “Fallujah.”

The two-hour performance is an unnerving musical journey into his head.

“Fallujah” was developed in Vancouver, Canada, by City Opera Vancouver with the help of a playwright, a composer, nine actors and an 11-member orchestra in a kind of performance laboratory. It will debut July 2 on explore.org/fallujah and will be marketed to opera houses. It is an example of how battlefield trauma after a decade of war is shaping American art as countless veterans, like Ellis, find themselves fighting an even tougher battle at home against horrifying memories, survivor’s guilt and sorrow.

Read more about Fallujah here.

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Pictured: Christian Ellis holds his dog as he stands for a portrait in his apartment in Denver.

Meet the veteran ladies in training at K9s for Warriors, the newest non-profit to participate in the Dog Bless You project. These veterans will spend three weeks at the K9s for Warriors facility, where they’ll learn the skills needed to train their own service canines. 

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Andrew Goodrich has come a long way since his injury. Having spent 5+ months paralyzed from the neck down, Goodrich is thankful for the ability to walk once again. Now, his walking will be aided by a special companion, Charity. Charity was trained by the prison handlers at the Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune in the Canines for Veterans program after being rescued from a local shelter. She will help Goodrich by assisting with his balance, picking up dropped items, and make navigation just a little easier. She’ll assist with his PTSD symptoms by helping to keep space between Andrew and folks in comes in contact with in the community.

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Meet Ace, a U.S. Retired Army Infantry soldier, who was called to duty at the age of 28 in the fight against terrorism. Josue “Ace” Acevedo served in Iraq as an infantryman and gunner. Front line, ready for action, protect America, save lives – that’s ACE. Ace proudly served his country for five years, but after being forced to retire, he was left with scars from which he thought he would never recover. It was a tragic day in battle for Ace when his shoulder and back were severely injured in a Hum-V accident. Ace now lives with a severe spinal cord injury and the invisible wounds of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD. “It was Blip that brought me to ECAD, but Aries gives me purpose again,” Ace said with a smile on his face. Visiting the VA in the Bronx, Ace was discovered by Blip, our resident golden retriever Therapy Dog who has a gift for zeroing in on the person in need of a little extra love and support.

Today, Aries’ proudly serves Ace with leash in mouth standing at the door, telling Ace it is time for them to go out. This specially educated dog reminds Ace to take his medications, which are at significantly lower dosages now. Aries helps to reduce Ace’s back and shoulder pain by picking up dropped objects. In fact, Ace and Aries are on the go all the time now, as good-will ambassadors for ECAD and Project HEAL, as well as advocates for other veterans who are in need of help.