They were Soldiers. And they were all from one family.
Retired Sgt. 1st Class Eric Martin Nelson, taskings manager for the Aviation and Missile Command, G-33 (Operations), is the latest of four generations of Soldiers depicted in the black-and-white pastel painting. While he was working in Germany, he had the painting done in 2011 by French artist Sascha Kijanovic.
âI just wanted to capture my familyâs history I guess because it seemed like it was not organized,â Nelson said. âI didnât want it to get lost in history.â
Using old photos, Kijanovic painted the images of the eight Soldiers. He captured detail in their faces from small snapshots.
The city of Albany celebrated local hero Henry Johnson on Saturday.
A wreath laying ceremony was held at Henry Johnson s statue in the Arbor Hill pocket park named after him, to commemorate the 105th anniversary of his enlistment. Johnson served in the all-Black 369th U.S. Army Infantry Regiment during World War I in France. The wreath of flowers matched the colors of the 369th burgundy, gray, and white.
The wreath is placed before Henry Johnon s statue during Henry Johnson Day at the park named after him in Albany.
Credit Dave Lucas / WAMC
Mayor Kathy Sheehan noted Johnson grew into a man in Albany, served his country as a soldier, and showed courage in combat that elevated him into a war hero.
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