Killeen Daily Herald

BELTON – A group of local artists used an exhibit Sunday (01/11/2004) to illustrate its support of U.S. soldiers.

Bell Fine Arts unveiled an exhibit in Belton called "Ice Cold Art" to celebrate the organization's adoption of the 615th Aviation Support Battalion through the "Adopt a Unit" program.

"This is a perfect example of what we're trying to achieve," said Ralph Gauer, president of the (Fort Hood) local chapter of Association of the United States Army, which is facilitating the program. "This is Adopt a Unit in action."

The paintings, sketches and sculptures that filled the showrooms did not depict scenes of war or teary-eyed soldiers reunited with their loved ones, however. The themes of the more than 150 pieces of artwork were as varied as the artists who created them.

Instead, the organization used the event, which showcased works by members of the group and by art students at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, to introduce themselves to soldiers and family members of the battalion.

The 615th Aviation Support Battalion, part of the 1st Cavalry Division, is scheduled to deploy to Iraq soon. Members of Bell Fine Arts will keep in touch with the soldiers while they are gone and provide family members support throughout the deployment.

"Whatever their needs are, we intend to meet them," said Deanna Rankin, vice president of the art organization.

That's just the kind of support soldiers need, said Command Sgt. Maj. Juan J. Ortiz Jr. during a brief ceremony at the reception. "That's what keeps them going everyday," Ortiz said of the soldiers in his battalion.

The bond with the Belton-based group will help family members draw support from beyond just the military community, said Sandy Parker, whose husband, battalion commander Col. David Parker, left for Iraq last week.

"The community is now reaching out to us," Parker added. Parker and several other members of her family have expressed an interest in classes offered through the art organization, which will waive the membership fee for soldiers' family members.

Bell Fine Arts became involved with the Adopt a Unit program through the suggestion of Angela Mowery, a member of the organization and an art student at UMHB.

Mowery, whose husband Sgt. 1st Class Herb Mowery is assigned to the 615th Aviation Support Battalion, originally planned to have a small exhibit of three artists at her home as a surprise for her husband before he left for Iraq. "It went from three people to I don't know how many were here," the Harker Heights woman said.

The Mowerys' 10-year-old daughter Chloe is the youngest member of Bell Fine Arts. Chloe presented her father with a framed flier from the exhibit at a brief ceremony during Sunday's reception, and said she was excited to be part of the event.

The exhibit was Belton's first involvement with the Adopt a Unit program, but other organizations and businesses have already volunteered to host units, said Stephanie O'Banion, president and CEO of the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce. "We expect others to follow suit," O'Banion said.