Up to the grave site, to the final resting place, a lump in the throat.
My dear departed friend, Paul Dargan, who served with the 26th Marines 3rd Recon at Khe Sanh during the infamous siege in the early days of 1968, asked me to create this painting from a series of photos he took at the field memorial service at Quang Tri in April of that year.
A haunting and reverent image. The price of freedom is extremely high and almost unbearable.
A blurb about each painting should go here. It can be as short or as long as you like. Ideally, it should be two or three sentences.
Precision flag folding is a solemn moment that prepares the flag for presentation to the family member.
The air is filled with Vietnam era helicopters or, “choppers.”
Final approach for this aircraft.
To witness a Full Honors funeral ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary is unforgettable. It tugs at your emotions, and brings them to a boil. The enormity of the moment makes it clear what the meaning of giving service in uniform is all about.
This F-22, a magnificent feat of engineering, soars way above the clouds, pure poetry.
Taking incoming rounds and in the fog of a firefight…this intrepid Blackhawk flies on...
My personal favorite painting. Sleepy Time Gal depicts a B-17, also known as the Flying Fortress.
My step-father jumped into Normandy, France in the early hours of D-Day with the 101st Airborne.
From the Full Honors series of paintings, U.S. Army Chaplain, Captain Matt Canada, offers his final salute to WWII veteran nurse Second Lieutenant Louise Rand interred on that day.
The Vietnam War. So many friends served, defining their lives forever. For myself, it is a mix of anger, confusion and ultimately deep regret that I did not serve in uniform at that time. Fate had a different plan for me.
From the collection of Mark Wahlberg.
Lots going on here, have fun!
The workhorse Blackhawks carry out combat, transport, and dust-off missions.
Depicting foot soldiers from the eight uniform eras of the U.S. Army…can you name them?
My stepfather, Seymour Blank, served in the 101st Airborne Division. He parachuted into Normandy in the early hours of June 6, 1944, D-Day. August 16, 1940 marked the first official Army parachute jump). Thanks to the brave men and women who serve.
This B-17 is headed home with a smoking engine…do they make it?
The folded flag is presented.
The Honor Guard moves into formation ready to take the transfer case off the caisson.
A workhorse of the Cold War and Vietnam, the Phantom was an awesome fighting machine employed by the USAF, USMC and USN.
This B-17 is flying at extremely low altitude on its way home. In distress or in final approach to the runway?
The classic F-16.
A lone Blackhawk on a rescue mission.
This C-5 transport carries our troops both into theater, and/or home.
A quick and colorful impression featuring the Blackhawk helicopter.
Blackhawk is the seminal painting that led to the entire collection of military paintings.
This painting, “Brothers in Arms,” depicts a U.S. Army veteran and the man who served as his translator in Afghanistan and saved his life. Fortunately, this soldier was able to bring the translator and his family to the United States to carry on their lives in safety.
The seventh and final painting of the Full Honors series.
Gifted to the Naval War College Museum. The Intrepid is such an iconic aircraft carrier. So many thousands of sailors served on her in multiple wars. Living in New York City, I pass Intrepid many times per month, and it always gives me chills to think about her storied history. This painting is the original bow design.
Unarmed, overmatched, and in a surrender, the troops don’t trust this man in the Iraqi desert. Anything is possible.
A conceptual image conjuring a sense of honor and gratitude for all those who serve and have served in uniform in the United States Armed Forces.
