TC students presented painting

Dave Williams with Joint Operation Mariposa, partnered with the U.S. Army to deliver a painting to third and fourth grade students at Trout Creek Elementary School last month. Students gathered outside for the unveiling done by Williams and U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Bill Nicholson.

Unlike paintings Williams has previously done, the piece he presented to students was of a mule, the Army's mascot, Williams says. For this unveiling, the painting was left unsigned. "The painting will be with the students for the week," Williams said. "During its time here, the students will get to choose a name for the piece."

Taylor Etienne, third and fourth grade teacher at Trout Creek Elementary, said she will have students choose several names they can vote on, and the painting will be displayed somewhere in school where everyone can enjoy it.

Williams found inspiration for the painting from a World War One photograph of a horse standing on his hind legs, as he had refused to pull a cannon behind him. Williams used the Army's official colors, black and gold, to paint the mule. Through his effort to connect servicemen and women with students, Williams has worked with the school and the Army to create an opportunity that will allow students and Army personnel to write letters and connect over Zoom. "They won't just be reading about servicemen, they will actually get to meet them," Williams said.

The painting is eight feet tall and is six feet wide. Williams says he painted the piece on burlap because of its durability. "The students will get to sign the back of the painting and from there, Nicholson will take over and bring the painting down to Missoula," Williams said. "The painting will be taken on a tour around Missoula and displayed at different locations.

Nicholson said Williams reached out to him for support and help with taking the painting on tour. "The soldiers will frame the painting and decorate it with previous unit patches to make it uniquely Army. It's a way to connect local community with military community," he said. "Right now, it's just a mule, afterward it will be an Army mule." Nicholson says he will be able to use this opportunity for some team building within his unit.

The Army mule is the latest installment from Williams' and Plains High School junior Hailee Steinbach's "Guardians of the Herd" series. Williams said this will be one of five paintings he will be donating to the Veterans Administration in Helena.