A significant phase of Operation Desert Storm is now in the hands of artists like Bennion resident Ron Neilson, who is using his talent to transform feelings about the war into a remembrance for future generations.
Neilson, an art teacher at Hunter High School, is a technical sergeant with the Utah Air National Guard's 151st Services Flight, which provides food, laundry and mortuary services.He and 17 other members of the services flight were mobilized in January and February and worked at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri until May while active-duty airmen there were moved to forward bases in Europe.
Whiteman Air Force Base manages 150 Minuteman II missile silos in Missouri and has been designated as the base for the B-2 Stealth bomber.
While at Whiteman, Neilson started collecting symbols and images that portrayed events of the war. "I wanted to create something that would become a part of history - something that would last a long time."
The result was a 46-inch-by-51-inch tile painting that incorporates the logos of both his and the 800th Services Squadron the Utah airmen supported and worked with at Whiteman.
A yellow circle separates a blue swirl of stars and stripes from a bald eagle in front of an American Flag and banner that reads "Operation Desert Storm '91." A second, identical mosaic is displayed at the Salt Lake City Air Guard base.
Officers in Neilson's command and at Whiteman considered the art project worthy of a special presentation and arranged to fly Neilson, his wife, Denise, who is also a Utah Air Guard member, and three officers from the 151st command to Whiteman last week to present the artwork during a ceremony accompanying the Strategic Air Command's inspection of the services squadron there.
"There was a real sense of pride and unity as our people worked together," Neilson said after he and the Missouri squadron's commander unveiled the artwork.
- Steve Fidel