At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, major hostilities of World War I formally ended.
And while there are no living veterans of the Great War, Americans still take this day to honor and give thanks to those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
This year, Google celebrates Veterans Day with a doodle painted by injured Iraq War vet Pete Damon.
In 2003, Damon lost parts of both arms while working in-theater as a helicopter mechanic.
“I would not be alive today were it not for my fellow service members who sprang into action to save my life,” he wrote in a blog post.
Pete Damon working on another painting (via Google)
What started as a form of therapy turned into a career: Damon has been painting scenes of children planting flags “for some time now.”
“I’ve witnessed children taking part in similar displays of patriotism on Veterans Day when large fields, usually in public spaces, are filled with a sea of little flags,” he said. “I thought it would make for the perfect painting subject.”
With the permission of friend and fellow vet Hillary Moll, who captured these scenes in photographs, Damon used the next generation of patriots as a reference.
“When I was approached about the [Google Doodle] project, I was extremely honored and more than a little apprehensive,” he explained. “I was not sure I was up to the task, but was willing to give it my best.”
Pete Damon alongside the Veterans Day 2019 Doodle he created (via Google)
The piece, called “Paying Tribute,” shows two children—one wearing green-and-brown camouflage and the other in a sailor’s cap and navy blue T-shirt—setting up a Veterans Day flag display.
“It is meant to honor all of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces,” Damon said.
“With this piece, I hope people will realize and appreciate the personal sacrifice that all who serve in the military endure securing the liberty of all Americans,” he continued. “I particularly hope that people will recognize the importance of teaching children to honor their service.”
Early proposed concepts for today’s doodle include “Reunion,” depicting a servicemember being embraced by his young son, and “Mementos of Service,” a still life of various items familiar to all branches of the military forces.
More on Geek.com:
- Apple Invites Veterans to Access Health Records on iPhone
- Teen Wins Google Doodle Contest With Heartwarming Message to Mom
- A Team of Special Forces Veterans is Helping Save Florida’s Barrier Reef
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