A unique memorial for U.S. Marine Lance Corporal John Martin Holmanson, who was killed in action in Iraq was commissioned by his mother Karla Comfort.  While on duty in Fallujah, Iraq, Holmanson and nine other U.S. Marines were killed by an explosive on December 1, 2005.  Six months earlier, his mother had seen a vehicle in the parking lot of the clinic where she worked painted as a memorial to Vietnam veterans.  Comfort knew that this would be the perfect dedication to her son and his nine comrades, and decided then and there that the names and faces of the fallen soldiers should appear on their own “rolling memorial.”

The vehicle chosen for this dedication was a 2006 H3 Hummer, due to its somewhat military appearance befitting the theme of the memorial.  To choose a painter, Ms. Comfort decided to search the Internet.  She soon came across the website of AirbrushGuy & Co. (http://www.AirbrushGuy.com), where she viewed some of the unique designs created by Robert Powell and his team.  Comfort was especially impressed with his work on a World War II memorial motorcycle created for the son of a veteran of that war, and decided that he should be the one to paint the Hummer.  Mr. Powell was immediately excited about the challenge and the opportunity to display House of Kolor (which AirbrushGuy & Co. use exclusively in their shop) products in such an honorable way.  Comfort, her father, and youngest son traveled from Oregon to Benton, Arkansas, to deliver the vehicle and share ideas.

When Powell first received the Hummer, he began by creating an American flag draped over the hood and both fenders, similar to the flagged draped casket.  The passenger side of the vehicle depicts the military in action in the desert and includes helicopters and a tank.  As the scene moves toward the back of the Hummer, there is a memorial for the lost Marines.  On each side of the cargo area is a ghosted image of the U.S. Marine seal and portraits of five of the fallen men.  Of the Hummer, Powell states “this is one of the most moving projects I have ever worked on.  I hope the work I have created will invoke emotion into others and will truly show how much we appreciate these men and what they have been doing for our country.”  Robert Powell’s daughter and son-in-law are currently serving in the United States Air Force and he himself is a veteran.

We at House of Kolor are honored and proud to be a part of the memorial.  We sincerely thank Robert Powell for his work and share Karla Comfort’s desire to immortalize her son and his comrades.  For more information on this project, visit AirbrushGuy.com or houseofkolor.com, “because the paint is the first thing they see.”