On Monday, July 28th 2025, we loaded the car with 20 framed prints of heroes and the accompanying legends of service and headed north to the Calvet home at Redding, CA.   We arrived after 10 hours of driving and moved around 10 of last year's work, moving images and legends, down the port hallway heading to the residents’ neighborhoods to make way in the starboard hall for the new 20 hero portraits.

We finished that work with time to spare and began working on this year's gallery for the 2025 show.  Many were the comments about how bare the halls of their home looked over the last few days while the prints were down and the walls repaired for this. A year increase in prints. 

Tuesday morning arrived, and we returned ready to complete the new work on the walls and prepare for the open house.   In a few hours, there were going to be 50-60 family members for the veterans featured in this year's show.  We made quick work and started hanging the 2025 show to joyful comments from staff and residents.   Now the home felt again like the home that Calvet Redding provides for its honored residents.   

The open house started at 2 pm. There were a few words of thanks to me and from me to the staff, and a request to make this an annual event.  I was able to thank the residents who shared their stories of service to our country.  The staff provided a celebration with treats and drinks befitting these heroes and their family visitors.  My heart was rewarded again from many comments and hits from residents and family with expressions of gratitude for the service that the Veterans Portrait Series provides.  But I receive twofold what I put out there when it comes to continuing this work. 

Each veteran received a personal 11x14 print as a thank you for their service and for the opportunity to include them in the project and feature their service to our country. Many of the residents also took photos with me and their proud printings hanging in the main halls of the home. 

Thank you to all the staff at the California Veterans home at Redding, the family members in attendance, and the heroes whose stories are not preserved for the future. 

Redding Show

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