Local artist honors Vietnam veterans with portraits

Vivian Mosley has made it her personal mission to honor those who have served in the armed forces. Last year she started the Forgotten Warrior project to show her thanks.

“This series started as a tribute to George Beley, a Marine who served in Vietnam, and Donita Klein, who cared for him and shared his struggles,” Mosley said.

Beley suffered from Agent Orange exposure from his time in Vietnam. “I was gifted his art supplies upon his death in 2022. After completing his portrait for his brother, I was inspired to honor more warriors who fought for my freedom,” Mosley said.

Mosley has now completed 42 of the scratch board portraits. She estimates each one has taken her eight to 10 hours to complete.

A reception with music and refreshments and a presentation of the portraits will take place Saturday, May 18 from 1-3 p.m. at the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts in New Philadelphia. The portraits will be on display at the center for a week before they are presented to the individuals or members of their family.

News of the project spread through word-of-mouth and Mosley’s participation in the REAL Veterans Reception, which was held for the first time last year in Dover. REAL stands for resources, employment, art and legacy.

Mosley grew up in the 1970s, but at the time, the Vietnam War was something that did not impact her life.

“The project has just grown, and it’s really special to me. Because growing up, we didn’t know anything about the war. We didn’t know. We were all in our little world of going to the prom and cruising down the boulevard, so we weren’t aware,” Mosley said. “After I started talking to some of these warriors, the stories just really touched my heart — what they went through and how they still survived.”

Bringing more awareness of the Vietnam War was important.

“I think what I really started out to show is the lack of knowledge,” Mosley said. “I have grandsons who are like, ‘What’s the Vietnam War?’ They don’t know. They don’t understand.”

Mosley feels it’s important to show Vietnam veterans people care. She personally knows of a veteran who committed suicide after serving three tours in the war.

“He just never got over the horror that he went through,” Mosley said. It makes her project much more significant. “Just to be able to give them something to show that they aren’t forgotten, that they are a warrior.”

She’s heard a story from a survivor who felt remorse because he survived when another he was serving with did not. It was a horrible thing to go through.

“No one cared when they got home either. They got spit on, they got treated like dirt, and now it’s just really nice to be able to give something back,” Mosley said.

Mosley also is grateful for the donations she’s received to help defray the cost of the project. She expects a good turnout at the reception.

“The majority of people said they would show up or send a representative from the family,” Mosley said.

Providing comfort is another benefit of the project.

“It’s interesting some of the widows that I sit with say it just brings them a sense of peace,” Mosley said.

Mosley will continue the project with other portraits if she’s contacted. Last year, in a show of gratitude, she also designed the red and blue decals on a new van the Tuscarawas County Veteran Services organization uses to transport veterans to VA medical centers outside of Tuscarawas County.

The veteran services has five vehicles available and transports about three to four veterans each day to appointments. Every county has a veteran services department that can help veterans with obtaining benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.