“Gold Star,” the art piece above by military and veteran champion and philanthropist, Steve Alpert, brings home one of the ultimate prices extracted to make possible the Memorial Day weekend you just enjoyed. 

On reflection, is it possible that mothers (recipients of the gold star) who lose a military son or daughter, whether peacetime or war, grieve the most among us? It seemed that way to me as a youngster in 1944 when my grandmother’s soldier son – my Uncle Bill – was lost on the German border. Mary Wilhemina Rose was rewarded the star and placed it in her front window. But she never spoke of it. None of the family did.

Have you ever noticed that art is three-fifths of heart?

I speak of artist Steve Alpert in particular, as one of his paintings is hanging on the back wall of the Sorokin Gallery in Greenwich as a donation to be sold to help veterans. Should his work, that of internationally famous Dario Campanile, and pieces by several CT and New York artists reach a $50,000 goal, this will support the work of End Veteran Debt (EVD) and The Harmonetiks Project with enough left over to abolish $1,000,000 in veteran debt. 

Whether you are motivated by the art or the heart (does it matter?), you are invited to visit us at the Sorokin Gallery, 96 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT on Thursday, June 5, from 1-5:00 pm. As you might imagine, veterans and their friends and family are particularly welcome, so please put this on your calendar.