After receiving more than 100 entries for the 2020 Veterans Day Poster Contest, the Veterans Day National Committee selected a winning design.

The designer, Casey Brown, is a Marine Corps Veteran who served in the infantry and was deployed to Iraq. He has volunteered at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center and was hired by the Salt Lake City Fiduciary Hub as part of the Veterans Benefits Administration.Veterans Day Poster Contest winning submission.

“I feel honored and respectful of the fact that I am representing my fellow Veterans and brothers and sister in arms. It is my hope to express in art what most of us feel,” said Brown.

After a former manager notified Brown of the poster competition, he was encouraged to give it a shot.

“From there a seed grew into a thought and the thought into an idea,” Brown said. “When I get an idea in my head I cannot rest until it comes out.”

His idea turned into the winning design. The poster features silhouettes of Veterans helping each other climb a mountain, with supporters of the community cheering them on.

“I wanted to express the beauty and rigidness of the camaraderie in military service,” he said. “I would like others to see the life cycle of a Veteran. When we are young, we see others serving and have a hope for living up to the legacy made by the Veterans in our lives. That desire to serve grows. We opt to give our time and talents to the service of our country; it can be a struggle and sacrifice at times. We help others along the way, we ask for help from time to time. We turn back around and help those next in line. Then at the end, we get to look back and ask ourselves if we left this country better than we found it; if we chose others’ lives over our own.”

Description of his award-winning design

The black color of the silhouettes represents the stoic and enduring nature of Veteran service. The contrast between the bright background and the dark images represent the sharp contrast that most Veterans experience between military life and civilian life. The sharp contrast fits this year’s 2020 theme Vision: Veterans in Focus.

The beautiful sky represents the serenity that Veterans seek in pining for peace, in drowning the echoes of war.

Overall, the cliff, Veterans and children represent the legacy of Veterans. The children represent future Veterans. Those struggling on the hill represent incoming and current Veterans. Those at the top of the hill represent the older generation looking after the others. You will notice that some Veterans on the hill are turning back to assist others. This represents the mindset of always looking back to help other generations, leaving a legacy better than they found it. If you ever walk into a VA Medical Center, Veterans are always welcoming and helping in a variety of ways.

The mountain represents experience; the climbers appear to climb for the better view atop the mountain.

About the Veterans Day Poster Contest

Each year the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. The Committee selects a poster from artwork submitted by artists nationwide and distributes the winning design to VA facilities, military installations around the world, and across cities and towns in our nation. The poster serves as the cover of the official program for the Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery. Click here for more information about the Veterans Day National Committee.

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12 Comments

  1. Dorene La Rue July 24, 2020 at 16:34

    What an amazing design!!

  2. Alexandra Fincher July 16, 2020 at 23:20

    Would love to have a poster for the Dallas Ladies Auxiliary of the Jewish War Veterans Post #256.

  3. Abe Cortez July 16, 2020 at 22:36

    The poster clearly depicts the military journey, service and taking care of each other. Well done Mr. Casey Brown.

    What strikes me the most is the beautiful, bright sky. The article notes the sky represents “the serenity that Veterans seek in pining for peace.” I have spent many years seeking this beautiful, bright sky.

    Abe Cortez
    Medical Troop 3d ACR

  4. Jerry D Foree July 16, 2020 at 07:04

    Very thoughtful poster. Thanks for the originator’s explanation of her thoughts behind the design.
    Each of we veterans could (and should) step back, look at the poster, and write down their thoughts on the meaning behind the selected design. Sharing those hundreds (thousands) of personal “interps” would be very enlightening . I will do a study and provide my personal concept, based on my 23 years (’52 to ’75) on an appropriate Vet media. Please let me know where we should post our impressions. Best Regards to all Vets. Stay safe.
    JDF

  5. Nathan Kindt July 15, 2020 at 21:40

    Again, would like to distribute a few posters in my hometown . Where and when will the posters be available?

  6. JOHN Allan BUCHANAN July 12, 2020 at 14:12

    Would love to know where I could pick one or two up.

  7. C. Bill Kirby July 10, 2020 at 19:04

    I retired in November 1995 after 30 plus years. How do I get a few copies?
    CSM C.B. Kirby, ret

  8. Brian Porter July 9, 2020 at 15:49

    Would love to purchase a few copies..

  9. Judith J. Mathewson July 9, 2020 at 01:34

    Beautiful design!

  10. Steve Calhoun July 8, 2020 at 19:21

    Will posters be available to distribute to local businesses, schools, churches, AL Posts?

  11. Linda Rodda July 8, 2020 at 14:23

    How do we get a print of this poster?

  12. Dale Dobies July 6, 2020 at 11:42

    Very nice! Love the contrast and the explanation behind the development of the poster!

Comments are closed.

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