Your Entry Title Freedom Fireworks

Your NameNancy Penfold


MediumAcrylic on Canvas

Your ProfileWe retired in 2010 and moved to Aberdeen, NC. I was very happy to leave the Polar Vortex of Buffalo, New York for nine months of the year. I wanted to 'Pay it Forward' and decided to use my talents to raise money for Cancer Research. I have been very active making chemo caps and adult blankets for the hospitals as well as colorful pillowcases and blankets for young children with debilitating diseases. After I joined the Artists League of the Sandhills, I realized I could paint on reclaimed pallet wood to display at Craft Fairs to earn dollars for my contribution to the American Cancer Society. The wood is from reclaimed pallets and is cut and prepped for painting by my husband, a retired disabled US Army Lieutenant Colonel. We are fortunate to be close to Fort Bragg and I have developed an appreciation for the sacrifices of the military and their families that they make on a daily basis. These heroes have been my inspiration to honor them through painting. Please visit my website [email protected].

The Story Behind My AmericaJuly 4th is always a time to celebrate with my family. From afternoon picnics to anticipation of dusk when all the celebrations began. Although the displays were always enjoyed, to me the true meaning of the "bombs bursting in air" (quoted from the Star Spangled Banner) represented our country's freedom and the many heroes who gave their lives for us. Historians tell us July 4th was first celebrated in the Revolutionary War with guns, cannons, bonfires and illuminations. The display was considered a morale booster for the troops. This tradition continued with fireworks eliminating the guns and cannons due to safety issues. Independence Day as we know it today was memorialized with the writing of the Star Spangled Banner in the War of 1812.

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