All Veterans Tribute essentially kicked off Friday night with the Veterans Artist Exhibit Reception at the Emporia Arts Center.
Victoria Perez won first place and People’s Choice for her stylized American flag titled “Those Who Gave It All.” Perez says she has never shown art in such a setting, and she said she was “overwhelmed” that she won because of the overall level of art presented. A Navy veteran originally from New Jersey, Perez served from 2002-2007 “until she got married and had babies.” She served on the USNS Comfort as a hospital corpsman, and her service in that role was her inspiration for her art.
Perez used small military action figurines for her 3-D flag rendition. She is grateful that the Emporia area is welcoming to veterans.
Matt Goss was second. Gary Van Syoc was third.
Michael Urrutia, a Marine veteran, served as the juror for the show. ESB Financial gave prize money to the top three entries, and the winning entries will also be featured at the bank’s downtown branch at least through Thanksgiving.
This is the first weekend of All Veterans Tribute in Emporia, and Saturday’s schedule is packed:
*Emporia State’s flag celebration starts at 10:30 am at Plumb Hall
*Quilts of Gratitude is at 11 am at the American Legion Post No. 5
*The All Veterans Luncheon is at noon at the Sauder Alumni Center
*The Remembering Vietnam panel discussion is at 1 pm at the Emporia Public Library
*Emporia State football is having its Veterans Recognition and Senior Day with kickoff at 2 pm at Welch Stadium. Coverage begins at 1 pm on Mix 104.9 FM, the KVOE.com desktop player and the mix 104.9 FM mobile app.
*The Veterans Cemetery Tour is at 2 pm at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
*The Pure Prairie League and Atlanta Rhythm Section concert begins at 7 pm at the Granada Theatre.
On Sunday, Freedom Fest starts at 8 am at Soden’s Grove. At 2 pm, Emporia Middle School will host the annual Student Essay and Poster Contest.
Remaining All Veterans Tribute schedule
Nov. 7: Emporia Company “L” in World War I, 7 pm, ESU Sauder Alumni Center
Nov. 8: Free Veterans Breakfast, 8 am, Emporia Senior Center
Emporia Company “L” in World War I, 3 pm, ESU William Allen White Library commons
All Veterans Tribute Military Roundtable, 7 pm, ESU Memorial Union Preston Family Room
Nov. 9: All Veterans Tribute Show, 7 pm, Albert Taylor Hall
Nov. 10: Free Veterans Breakfast, 7 am, Presbyterian Manor
Banner Walk, all day, Commercial Street
Parade, 9:30 am, Commercial Street
Memorial Service, 11 am, All Veterans Memorial
Ham and Bean Feed, Noon, American Legion Post No. 5 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1980
All Veterans Honor Crawl, 6:30 pm
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}2018 Veterans Artist Exhibit Reception{/gallery}
