Hartsfield-Jackson exhibit salutes military personnel
By DeAllous Smith

To honor the brave women and men who serve in the U.S. armed forces, a new youth art exhibit was unveiled on December 7 near the U.S. military’s check-in counters at Hartsfield-Jackson.

The Atlanta Military Gateway Youth Art Program offers a rotating exhibit of students’ framed artworks that bear messages of hope, freedom, gratitude and welcome.

“Hartsfield-Jackson is very proud of its youth art program,” said Aviation General Manager Louis Miller. “The Atlanta Military Gateway Youth Art Program not only gives students a global platform to showcase their work — which is truly spectacular — but also expresses our appreciation to all active and retired military personnel who pass through the world’s busiest airport.”

Hartsfield-Jackson’s Art Program, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Atlanta, unveiled the exhibit during a ceremony attended by students from the Drew Charter School, the first school to have students’ art displayed. The Rotary Club also provided an American flag, which will hang permanently on a wall near the artwork.

“The Rotary Club was delighted to be a part of this project, which represented an opportunity to connect with both Atlanta’s youth and our nation’s military,” said Clark Dean, chairman of the Rotary Club of Atlanta Troop Support Committee. “Many of Atlanta’s top business leaders want to show support for our troops but often aren’t sure how. Through Rotary, this program has allowed them to do exactly that — and in the best way possible: through honor, respect and gratitude.”

“A year ago, an idea was born to transform Hartsfield-Jackson’s U.S. military check-in area into a colorful, warm space filled with the artwork of young students from schools all over metro Atlanta,” said Valerie Hartman Levy, president of the Metro Atlanta Million Mom March. “I hope each soldier who passes through the military gateway is impacted in the most positive way — through the knowledge that the support and appreciation of Atlanta is with them wherever they go.”

Every four months, art from a different metro Atlanta school will be featured in the exhibit.

Art by children from Drew Charter School welcomes military personnel who come through Hartsfield-Jackson. New schools will be featured every four months.