The American Flag as Art for Memorial Day: Children's Patriotic Art

MEMORIAL DAY: Flags, Flags and MORE FLAGS

Memorial Day has arrived. My heart is full. Pulling together this article and retrospective of children's patriotic artwork brings tears to my eyes. Literally. It is hard to type. I bring you dozens and dozens of images today, from my many Author Illustrator school visits around the country and around the world. Amazing and appropriate to re-visit all of this effort and creative energy today. 

We have so much to be grateful for as a country. Much of that debt is owed to those who have served us so valiantly over the years. Today we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in their service.  

I took this next photo two years ago as I drove away from one of my favorite, annual school visits. I did allow myself to cry quietly as I took the picture. An entire hillside of flags 'planted' in honor of specific heroes brings tears to the toughest of individuals and I am not a tough anything. Walking midst the 'Field of Heroes' is the ultimate of humbling experiences. 

At this moment very moment in time, our son-in-law, Captain Mettle is again deployed across the world and has been gone from our WonderPeeps for months now. The reality of having an active duty relative far from home, hits very hard on Memorial Day weekend. I took this picture of him several years back on the occasion of my receiving this 'quilted' thank you in the mail. Again with the quiet tears. {Feel free to join me in prayer for his safe return home.}

It was actually my daughter's idea to include her hero in my picture book. 

At the last minute I added him in his dress uniform at the Thanksgiving table. 

*Since then I have learned how to add Scott into family picture of events that he misses. 

Here's an example from Christmas time. 

I took the family four photo during our cross-country adventure to FL. 

Quite by accident there was a spot where he was genuinely missing. 

As a surprise for Sarah, I had Scott take his selfie and I was able to crop him into the fun. 

Back to the task at hand. 

Honoring those who have sacrificed everything in service.

I have gone back through my files to create this patriotic RoundUP.

I hope that it will inspire you for your own creative patriotic expressions. 

I wrote my picture book's text as a children's song in the immediate aftermath of September 11th and as a result I am often showered with patriotic creativity upon my arrival at schools. 

I created the illustrations for the book from fabric as small quilts. 

I make 16 quilts to craft my traditional hardback 32 page picture book. 

Many of the examples of children's art responses will favor 'quilts' in their style and collaboration. 

I

One of the most AMAZING adventures I have been offered was to tour four of our US Army bases in Europe and share my work with the children of our troops stationed abroad. I got to sing and entertain in both Germany and Italy as part of the "Month of the Young Military Child." 

Now sit back and appreciate the artwork from my travels. 

I have the song in a digital file for immediate purchase and download at my little store at Teachers Pay Teachers. I decided to put my whole shop on a 20% savings this weekend. You and your family can sing it at your weekend picnic!

See what your peers are saying! 

The zipped file comes with a pdf of the chart to support your singing the song using sign language. 

I always conclude the song with a BIG burst of fireworks! 

We have two daughters and the other daughter is also married to an enlisted man! 

Zac is in the Navy and plays bass trombone for the Navy. 

He is finishing eight years of service with the Naval Academy Band in Anapolis and will be transferring this summer to the BIG LEAGUES and will be permanently playing with THE Navy Band in Washington DC. We are so proud of his hard work and service. 

He, too is pictured in my picture book! 

He is the furthest left in fabric below. 

Those two got married in a gazebo and so I chose that backdrop for his quartet. 

Of course I would appreciate your pinning from this article! 

That's how people *FIND* me! 

Thanks for helping to spread the word. 

I do have an entire Pinboard dedicated to all things patriotic!

Just click the pic below to see those additional 500+ ideas! 

Click the pic to join the first 151,000++++ followers! 

Yup! That's me! 

In another century! 

Pre-September 11th! 

I used to march the littles around and we would wave flags! 

I've always had a flag bag! 

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