Banes, 27, of Gardendale completed a work of art entitled “Daddy’s Honor” in 2001 while she was a student at UAB. The piece was originally intended to be a memorial to her father, Harold W. Banes, a Vietnam veteran who died in 1991 after a 8-month battle with Agent Orange-linked cancer. The piece has turned into a memorial for all of America’s heroes who have either given their life in duty or are currently risking it for others.

 “It started out as something for my dad and I,” Banes said. “ It turned into so much more than that.”

 While in art class in 2001, Banes was given as assignment to do a series portrait. She had the idea to do “Daddy’s Honor” and was set to turn her idea into her professor. The day she told her professor about the idea was September 11,2001. Banes said she knew she couldn’t be selfish. At that point it wasn’t just for her dad. It was for everyone.

 “I can’t imagine how it felt to lose a loved one on that day,” Banes said. “ At least I had a chance to say goodbye to my dad. A lot of people didn’t get to say goodbye on Sept. 11.”

 “Daddy’s Honor “ is made up of three different drawings (“Strength, “Struggle”, and “Sacrifice”) that were done with soft pastels. The drawings are of three different American flags that represent each of the words.

 “Strength” represents Banes father before his fight with cancer. 

“I always saw him as Superman,” Banes said. “I didn’t think anything could hurt him.” 

“Struggle” represents her dad during the cancer.

 “ He fought through it all,” Banes said. “ I was only 13 when he died, but I remember it taking a huge toll on him.”

 “Sacrifice” represents the ultimate price her father’s ultimate sacrifice, his untimely death.

 ‘It is something that I think about everyday,” Banes said. “ I should probably be getting over it by now, but I’m not and don’t think I ever will. The story of the three flags is my dad’s story, but it is also our country’s story and our troops’ stories.”

 Banes recently decided to make prints of her work to sell. The proceeds of the prints will go to a variety of charities including brain tumor research and dependants of veterans.

 “ I want to help the troops in any way I can,” Banes said. “We didn’t receive anything from my dad’s passing. They acknowledged that it was linked to Agent Orange, but that was it. I don’t want that to happen to someone else. I want to help children of troops who are injured or killed to be able to go to college someday. Guys over there fighting now should feel confidant that if something happens to them, someone will help their families. That is what I want to do with all of this.

 The first public display of Banes’ work was at this year’s Magnolia Festival. Banes gave one of her prints to the Gardendale Fire Department and was lucky enough to pass one along to the country group Rascal Flats when they were in Birmingham a couple of weeks ago. She will also be featured on Fox 6 News at 6 p.m. on Friday in Fred Hunter’s Absolutely Alabama segment. The segment will also replay Sunday during the station’s morning newscast.

 “I’m just trying to get the word out right now,” Banes said. “Whatever I can do to pass it along, I’m doing it.”

 For information on ordering, available print sizes and pricing, visit Banes website at www.daddyshonor.com. She can also be emailed at lori@daddyshonor.com

                                                                                                        Written by James Phillips

                                                                                                        North Jefferson News