Our graphic support team is from Ray Simon Art and their website is here. Ray and his guys are from my hometown of Youngstown Ohio and do some incredibly powerful art including tributes to the military, police, firefighters, Christian themes, sports, and more. But the most powerful thing Ray and the guys do is provide a framed tribute print to the families of our GI’s who are killed in action. RaySimonart in cooperation with Wilbert Funeral Services (their Veterans products page here) , provides a free personalized lithograph to the families of service members killed in action, the Iraqi Freedom print is here
Ray is currently working on a project (that I can’t tell about just yet) but it’s for a prospective US military client. After that, the next project he will do is a US Navy tribute print and we are going to help with advising him on the most appropriate themes for the image. When I first met Ray, I told him I really liked his Marine tribute print but advised he add another lithograph, a slight change from the original, instead of a Marine presenting a folded Flag how about him presenting his sword? I also recommended he add some ribbons to the Marines as the troops have been fighting for over six years and a staff NCO would undoubtedly have more ribbons.
When I visited Ray’s studio two weeks ago, he introduced me to the mother of Corporal Brad Squires. Donna Squires showed us a video tribute she had made of her son Brad who was killed in action in Haqlaniyah, Iraq. Corporal Squires was 26 when he was killed and left a new wife named Julie. From the tribute website to Brad:
Brad was killed in action June 9, 2005 when their vehicle hit an explosive device while conducting operations near Haqlaniyah, Iraq. Brad gave the Ultimate Sacrifice, his life for Our Country and Our Freedom. Brad lived life, loved life and regretted nothing. Brad’s priorities in life were his love for his family, his love of our country, his commitment to the Marine Corp. and his mission at hand.
He was killed on the day he reenlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. The day after I met Brad’s Mom, I attended the final Sunset Ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial of the year and all I could do was look on in awe at the men in the formation and all they represent, who despite the constant barrage of negative news, join or reenlist in the infantry in the Army and Marine Corps. All who have served or who served are special in my heart, but those that join the infantry during wartime, are a special breed.Here is the Marine Corps Tribute Print from Ray Simon Art.
May God watch over our troops.
