The MJL National Veterans Freedom Mural: The Mission Expands to Location Two
This Website is a Dedication to our Veterans and a Thank You to All those that helped support this mural.
A Growing Living Memorial | Honoring Our Heroes Across a New Canvas
by Michael & Jennifer Lude
Location Two represents the next vital chapter in the MJL National Veterans Freedom Mural series. Driven by the overwhelming response to our original 80-foot masterpiece—which currently honors over 480 veterans from over 40 states—this second location allows us to continue our "fluid" artistic journey. As Location One remains an active sanctuary of gratitude, this expansion provides a new, monumental canvas to ensure that no veteran’s story remains untold.
This site is more than a continuation; it is a deepening of our collective reverence. We are currently accepting new photo submissions, names, and ranks to be hand-painted into this growing archive. Visitors can track our live painting progress through weekly visual updates and signature hyperlapse videos, witnessing each brushstroke as it transforms a blank wall into a spiritual embrace for our nation's guardians. Join us at Location Two as we bridge generations and carve the legacy of freedom into the heart of our community.
"The mission is growing! In partnership with the American Legion and our incredible community, we are crafting a vibrant memorial that speaks directly from the heart of the people to the veterans we honor."
by Professional Mural Artist Michael Lude & Jennifer Lude 2024
Veteran
Veteran on the National Veteran's Freedom Mural site 2 at the American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, Indiana.
Veteran
Veteran on the National Veteran's Freedom Mural site 2 at the American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, Indiana.
Veteran
Veteran on the National Veteran's Freedom Mural site 2 at the American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, Indiana.
Veteran
Veteran on the National Veteran's Freedom Mural site 2 at the American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, Indiana.
Thomas "Tommy" Reamer III
US Air Force, Air National Guard Tour in Iraq, Afghanistan & 122nd Fighter Wing November 15, 1991-July 6, 2017
Veteran
Veteran on the National Veteran's Freedom Mural site 2 at the American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, Indiana.
Veteran
Veteran on the National Veteran's Freedom Mural site 2 at the American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, Indiana.
Veteran
Veteran on the National Veteran's Freedom Mural site 2 at the American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, Indiana.
Expanding the Tribute: Location Two, Churubusco Indiana American Legion Post 157
The MJL National Veterans Freedom Mural in Columbia City stands as the first of many—a monumental tribute, 25 feet tall and 80 feet wide—serving as a vast canvas alive with stories, memory, and spirit. Painted in acrylics on the side of a building, this mural is not merely an image, but a powerful convergence of history, identity, and collective reverence woven into a dynamic tapestry of color and symbolism.
What began as a singular vision has now evolved into an expansive mission. As the first location continues to thrive, we are proud to announce the launch of our second mural location. This expansion allows us to honor even more heroes, ensuring that the stories of our veterans continue to reach new corners of our community. Just as our first location at Big Boar Cycles serves as a cornerstone of local history, this new site represents our ongoing commitment to creating a "mural trail" of honor that spans beyond a single wall.
A Shared Community Collaboration
What makes this series truly distinct is how it encompasses more than our own vision. We are honored to have over 500 veterans represented across these works, with more faces being added continually as new submissions arrive. Veterans' photos have been submitted from more than 40 states—and that number continues to grow. Members of the community contribute by submitting photographs of their loved ones whose stories now live on these walls. Each face is painted with care, accompanied by names, ranks, and personal notes and imagery inscribed beside their portraits. This collaboration transforms these murals into living memorials, bridging generations and creating a shared space where individual sacrifices are neither forgotten nor nameless.
More Than Paint: A Living Archive
These murals are more than paint on a wall—they are living archives, spiritual embraces, and a call to remember with gratitude every face that serves as a guardian of freedom. They stand as a reminder that behind every uniform is a story worth telling, and within every story lies an enduring hope for peace and unity.
This work arose from a profound desire to honor veterans while educating others about the depth of their service and the profound cost of our freedoms. It is a vivid reminder that freedom is not abstract; it is carved from the lives of those who have stood watch, fought, and given so much. We invite all who see these murals—at our original location and our growing second site—to pause, to reflect deeply on the enduring ties of faith, freedom, and unyielding service that bind us together.
Veterans Freedom Mural 2: Section 01 Honor Roll
Location: Site 2 (Churubusco, IN) | Section 01
Below is the official index of veterans featured in Section 10. Each portrait was hand-painted from original family reference photos to ensure their legacy is preserved in our living archive.
Archival Note:
This database serves as a digital repository for veteran history and commemorative records. Information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources, including official military documentation, family-provided narratives, and oral histories. While we strive for historical accuracy, some details may be limited or reflect the personal recollections of the submitter. This index is intended for educational and genealogical research and does not constitute an official government record of service
[ Report a Correction / Submit Documentation ]
Numerical Number Order | Final Rank and Rating | Full Name used in Service | Branch of Service | Dates of Service | Primary Unit(s) of Assignment | Awards and Decorations | Conflict or Era | Family | Veteran Section Location | Additional Details | Source Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
001 | Sergeant, E-5 | John A. Smith | United States Army | 2001-2010 | 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart | Global War on Terrorism | Married to Susan Smith, two children | Section B, Row 12, Grave 5 | Participated in multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. | https://militaryrecords.example.com/johnasmith |
002 | Lieutenant Commander | Emily R. Johnson | United States Navy | 1995-2005 | USS Nimitz (CVN-68) | Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal | Operation Enduring Freedom | Single, no children | Section C, Row 3, Grave 8 | Specialized in naval aviation and deployed aboard aircraft carrier. | https://navyarchives.example.com/emilyrjohnson |
003 | Captain | Michael T. Lee | United States Air Force | 1980-1990 | 325th Fighter Wing | Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal | Cold War | Married to Linda Lee, three children | Section A, Row 7, Grave 2 | Pilot of F-15 Eagles during key strategic operations. | https://afrecords.example.com/michaeltlee |
004 | Sergeant First Class | Carlos M. Rivera | United States Marine Corps | 2003-2013 | 1st Marine Division | Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | Iraq War | Married to Maria Rivera, one child | Section D, Row 10, Grave 1 | Deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. | https://marinecorpsvault.example.com/carlosmrivera |
005 | Chief Petty Officer | Linda K. Thompson | United States Coast Guard | 1990-2000 | Coast Guard Cutter Eagle | Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal | Post-Cold War Era | Widowed, no children | Section E, Row 5, Grave 3 | Specialized in search and rescue operations along the Atlantic coast. | https://coastguardarchives.example.com/lindakthompson |