Cover artist Jeanne Harris Weaver
Cover artist is Jeanne Harris Weaver. She is also a Gold Star Mother, having lost her youngest son, 1LT Todd William Weaver KIA Kandahar Afghanistan, September 9, 2010. The oil painting was created for the national organization, Honor and Remember. The painting was used as a fund raiser for them and later used to create a porcelain Christmas ornament. The organization is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of American fallen military service members and their families. The main way of showing this respect is through the Honor and Remember Flag which is meant to fly continuously as a visible reminder of the lives lost defending our freedoms. Twenty-seven states have adopted the Honor and Remember flag with Florida being the 26th state to do so. In 2013,
Jeanne permanently moved back to Cocoa Beach where she had lived in the 50’s and 60’s. She began to search for other mothers or family members who had lost their loved ones in the Iraq or Afghanistan Wars. She was able to meet a couple of moms who were active in the Chapter 1 Gold Star Mothers organization during the Viet Nam Era. She learned that she could not reopen the “Chapter 1” of the Viet Nam era but could form a chapter for the newer Gold Star families. With great thanks to God, she was delighted to report there were not enough casualties from Brevard County to actually build a local chapter.
The Race – Acrylic Wood Panel
Using Jeanne’s artistic thought process and knowing that by doing something positive in memory of your loved one aids the healing process, Jeanne and her husband Donn organized a dinner where Gold Star families could meet and pay honor to their loved ones. Later, the mothers would join together to do something emotionally constructive— they would create a Christmas tree which would be on display to the public during the holiday season.
Christmas Stars
Gathering materials, the group made large golden stars with pictures of their loved ones on both sides of the star. Stars were also made for the fallen in earlier wars. WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, pre-9/11 terrorist attacks, Iran, Afghanistan and military personnel who died as a result of military service.
Many thanks must be given to the members of Rolling Thunder Florida, Chapter 1 and the Cape Canaveral VFW who through the years, have financially supported the tree. The tree is displayed in the Museum of the Veteran Memorial Center, Merritt Island, FL each Christmas Season (late November to early January) in memory of our area fallen. A sign stands next to it inviting others, who have lost a loved one to war, to contact Jeanne so that they might also have a star in memory of their loved one. Most recently, a star was added for a former MIA in Viet Nam whose body was recovered.
As a local artist, Jeanne paints in oil on canvas. She also creates Byzantine style icons with fresh egg tempera paint and 24 K gold leaf. As Resident Artist, Jeanne teaches iconography through the Episcopal Central Diocese Institute of Christian Studies at the St. David’s Institute, St. David’s by the Sea, 4th St. South in Cocoa Beach. Commissions are welcomed.