Kelley to release new patriotic painting Saturday in Hudson

• Artist Rick Kelley's new painting, 'The Homecoming'

Artist Rick Kelley will be in Hudson Saturday, May 26 to release his new painting, “The Homecoming.” Submitted photo

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Artist Rick Kelley, best known for his “On Freedom’s Wing” painting after 9/11 will be in Hudson, and other Twin City locations unveiling his latest painting, “The Homecoming.” It honors those who served in the military defending our country while remembering those who gave their lives. His Hudson appearance is scheduled Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kelley Gallery, 512 Second St.

“It tells the story of unconditional love and the need to go beyond the call of duty for country, family and friends,” Kelley said, a lesson he believes we could all learn in this day and age.

Kelley will unveil “The Homecoming” throughout the Memorial Weekend at four different venues. In honoring the women and men who have served in the military protecting our freedom, he will present each one who comes out to see him, a personalized signed medium print of either, “On Freedoms Wing,” “Liberties Flight,” “Reflections of Freedom,” “The Patriot,” or “Coming Home.”

“They are willing to give everything for this country, it’s the least I could do,” Kelley said. “This is my way of saying ‘Thank you.’”

In explaining the new painting, Kelley said: “The words at the bottom of the new painting say ‘Our freedom comes not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.’ The words that followed this statement originally were, ‘so ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ The soldier is returning home, as he looks over at the picture drawn by his child nailed to a telephone pole with a yellow ribbon tied right below it, it states, In God We Trust, and I Love You Dad.

“Between the soldier and the town are ghosts of policeman, fireman, and soldiers honoring him for fighting for what they gave their lives for. One soldier was his buddy wearing the same deployment patch he is. As your eye follows the four telephone wires towards the town then beyond, you’ll see four snow lines going up into the mountains. At the end of the line are four F-16 fighters flying in the formation of the missing soldier.

“Between the third and fourth jet are the three firemen raising the flag in front of the remnants of the Twin Towers in Manhattan. To the right of the fourth jet are the soldiers raising the flag at Iwo Jima. On one side of the main telephone pole in the mountain is Mother Teresa, who gave her life to the poorest of the poor. On the other side is Dr. Martin Luther King, who gave his life defending freedom.

“In the snowiest part of the mountain to the left is the Pentagon, where world peace is defended daily.

“In flight, below the Pentagon is United Flight 93 with the immortal words of civilian Todd Beamer on the side of the plane it says ‘Let’s Roll.’ At the top of the mountain is the American flag and again in the mountain and the sky with our nation’s symbol, the bald eagle soaring to great heights over all the sacrifices in the name of God, Country, and Freedom.”

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