Been on my mind this past week. We love our veterans.
I just watched this segment on "Sunday Morning" (CBS):
"America" depicts Kella, of Aberdeen, S.D., in her handmade Lakota regalia. She served as an Army SP4 (1986-88). Mary Whyte
I just watched this segment on "Sunday Morning" (CBS):
"We, the People": Mary Whyte's portraits of 50 veterans from 50 states
Setting out to paint 50 veterans from 50 states, Mary Whyte traveled the country at her own expense, sketching, interviewing, photographing along the way. The paintings took her seven years to complete, and were unveiled two weeks ago in Charleston, S.C., where Whyte lives.
"America" depicts Kella, of Aberdeen, S.D., in her handmade Lakota regalia. She served as an Army SP4 (1986-88). Mary Whyte
If I find a video of the segment I will post it here but in the meantime you can go to the linked story to read more about this beautiful story and HERE to see 12 of the veteran's portraits and their bios.She knew she wanted a Native American to represent South Dakota. She painted Kella Withhorn in her handmade Lakota regalia.
"This is because of my military service," Whitehorn said. "So, it's been created for me, nobody else. The flags represent the military and the patriotism."
She joined the Army at 20, assuming college wasn't an option. "When I left home, I was such a shy kid. I never flew on a plane, didn't know how to get on an escalator, I was just scared to death. And being in the military just opened my eyes to the world. I got to meet all kinds of people, and it helped me grow."
Now she has a master's degree, and is a budget analyst for the federal government.