We are consistently taken aback by the incredible support of our community. Because of you, July’s First Friday was a raging success for the SEAD Gallery. People of all ages came down to visit with Holly Rees and hear his tales of the Battle of Okinawa. Cookies disappeared quickly and SEAD’s display of unique American history and war books was quickly disassembled as people began purchasing SEAD’s treasures.
The SEAD Library and Bookshop had wall to wall of people as soon as Holly arrived. His table display of WWII memorabilia brought back memories for some and gave a new outlook of war for others. Holly’s most discussed piece was a flag he confiscated from a soldier. The soldier kept the folded up flag in his helmet, and there were two holes in the middle of the Japanese flag from the soldier’s wound.
Holly’s recently published book Three Flags and Two Brothers: To War and Back sold out its first edition at the gallery on Friday. It was a special moment for Holly and his friends and family, his long time friend Walter Hinkle and fellow Rotarian who bought the first copy, and an Aggie grad student who bought the last took a memorable picture with Holly. If you were unable to purchase Three Flags and Two Brothers: To War and Back, rest assured Holly and his family are working on a second edition.
It was amazing to see the droves of people who came out to honor Holly Rees and the other veterans who came to SEAD’s First Friday event. The welcoming, positive atmosphere that the people brought into SEAD was genuinely heartfelt. Holly, the hero that he is, was no doubt the life of the party. The respect and pride his family had for him shown in their faces as person after person sat down to chat with Holly for just a brief moment. It was exceptional to see the love Holly’s family has for him through simple gestures and expressions. If you missed this First Friday we hope to see you at Hailey Herrera’s opening for “Calligraphy + Color: Watermedia Abstracts” on July 20th and of course at SEAD’s next First Friday hullabaloo.
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