Local artist gives painting to Holley honoring soldiers killed in Vietnam War

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Local artist Carol Culhane and Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak look at the painting of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Rochester, which Culhane donated to the Holley Village Board on Tuesday night. Nine Holley men were killed in the war and are included in the memorial.

HOLLEY – The Holley Village Board received a special gift Tuesday night from local artist Carol Culhane.

A lifelong supporter of all veterans, Culhane has a special place in her heart for Vietnam War veterans, as her late husband and current husband Jerry both served in Vietnam.

A gifted and self-taught artist, Culhane has used her talent to benefit veterans, including painting the Vietnam Veterans’ memorial in in Highland Park, Rochester.

Prior to Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, Culhane presented Mayor Mark Bower with a painting of the memorial, which includes soldiers from Holley who were killed in the war.

Holley lost nine young men: John P. Davis, David D. Case, Ronnie P. Sisson, David P. States, Howard Bowen, Gary E. Bullock, Gary L. Stymus, George W. Fischer Jr. and Paul S. Mandracchia, all of whom are memorialized on bollards at the Rochester memorial.

“The nine boys lost is the most per capita from any village in the nation,” Culhane said.

Holley has a population of about 1,800.

“We are very pleased with the painting and glad we got to meet Carol,” Bower said. “I am honored on behalf of the village to be owner of this piece of art.”

(Left) Holley mayor Mark Bower holds the painting Carol Culhane donated to the village board Tuesday night. It will be loaned out to historical societies or the library for special occasions, but hang permanently in the village office in the former Holley High School. (Right) U.S. Army veteran Bill Moroz and Dan Mawn of the Murray-Holley Historical Society look at the painting of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Rochester, before artist Carol Culhane donated it prior to the Holley Village Board meeting Tuesday night.

Bower announced the painting will hang in a prominent spot in the village offices, near another framed tribute to the local casualties of the Vietnam War given to the village by an anonymous donor.

Bower said they will loan the painting out to local organizations, including Murray-Holley Historical Society, Clarendon Historical Society and the Holley Library for their special occasions.

In her presentation, Culhane urged everyone to visit the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Highland Park. Approaching the park, visitors take what is known as the Veterans’ Walk, on which bricks in the ground are engraved with hundreds of veterans’ names from World War II and beyond. Just past that are flags flying from all branches of the military.

Culhane explained the idea for a memorial was spearheaded by Dr. Barry Culhane, a Vietnam era veteran who, as a medic, took care of napalm head wounds when soldiers arrived stateside.

“He wanted to create a memorial as a tribute to all heroes who fought in the Vietnam War and a place to honor the 280 service members from the Greater Rochester area, who lost their lives in Vietnam,” Carol Culhane said. “Some were also from Medina.”

Ground was broken for the memorial in 1992. The first of 3,401 trees was planted in 1994, and the memorial was dedicated on Sept. 8, 1996.

“The memorial serves as a place of tranquility, education and healing for veterans, their families and the wider community,” Culhane said. “The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial aims to educate about the war and its effects, and to provide a space for remembrance and reflection.”

On the poster Culhane donated there are six of the nine from Holley – Case, Bowen, Davis, Mandracchia, Sisson and Stymus. Culhane was unable to find photos of the other three.

The concept of Culhane’s painting is the soldiers walking away to rest and peace in the next life. They are in uniform with all the gear they wore in battle. Helicopters are also portrayed, as they played a big part in the Vietnam War, not only providing support in battles, but transporting the wounded out of the battle area.

“There aren’t any words I can say to describe what you feel when walking down the path in the memorial, past each bollard,” Culhane said. “As you walk on the hallowed ground, stopping at each bollard to read the name, date of birth, date of death, branch of service and high school attended, it brings tears to your eyes, and a prayer in your heart that they are all resting in peace. In my generation and beyond, we were all, in one way or another, touched by the Vietnam War and the effects to our country.

“I have been in search of a home for this painting for a long time,” Culhane said. “I am eternally grateful to hand this painting off to the village of Holley to provide a place where people can stop and remember the local boys lost, as well as the 58,211 who gave their last true measure of devotion,” Culhane added.

After the presentation, the board meeting was delayed until 7 p.m. so those present could enjoy punch, cookies and conversation.

For those who would like to visit the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, it is located on a two-acre site in Highland Park, off South Avenue, near the Al Sigl Center Campus and Elmwood Avenue.