Moment of Silence
- audreybeckert
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
What is your name, and where do you live?
Eileen Oleksiak-Hall, and I live in Erma, NJ, which is a small area just north of Cape May.
What is the title, who is the creator, and where did you purchase it?
The painting is called Moment of Silence, by Audrey Beckert. I didn't buy it myself. It was a gift from my sister and brother in law. They bought it in the Carriage House Gift Shop at the Emlen Physick Estate. The artist shows a lot of pieces there and donates 50% of her sales to Cape May MAC.
What first drew you to the item and has that sentiment changed in any way?
The painting was a surprise gift for Eileen. Her sister had seen a post on Facebook and knew that Eileen would love it, and then the sale happened quite quickly.
Note: Eileen is a retired educator, and a proud and accomplished member of the VFW Post 386 Auxiliary in Cape May. Service to our country and supporting veterans is something she feels very strongly about. As a teacher, she was passionate about sharing the importance of honoring military service with her students.
Eileen was happily surprised by the gift, and she still likes it very much today. It reminds her of her teaching days, when her students would participate in Veteran's Day ceremonies.
Does this item fit with other parts of your collection, or is it different for you?
It’s different but my style is very eclectic. My parents both served in WWII, so I connect strongly with the subject. Clearly this is a Memorial Day service in Cape May. You can see poppies on some of the attendees shirts, the Coast Guard Honor Guard presenting their flags, and the speakers and presenters lined up at the podium beside the monument, which is the focal point of this beautiful park in the middle of town. There's even a wreath laid at the foot of the flagpole. The American flag is lowered to pay respect to those who lost their lives in the line of duty. The flag is not lowered on Veteran's Day, which is a holiday honoring all veterans, living or not. I attend these events each year, as well as the July 4th celebrations. It's a source of personal pride to do so, and it really is a solemn but lovely memorial service that our city hosts every year.
Where do you display or use it?
It is in my living room near a photo of my parents.
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