Military and the MGMoA

by Delaynna Trim, Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art Curator

With Memorial Day just passed, I thought it might be nice to highlight some military connections with the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. Did you know that the MGMoA has the WWI uniform of Fr. Timothy Murphy, OSB. He was the first US military chaplain to die in WWI. He had been a monk at Sacred Heart/St. Gregory’s Abbey, so we have his uniform in our collection. In addition, we have a glass negative photo of him wearing his uniform. He served as headmaster and professor at Sacred Heart College, and then pastor of St. John’s parish in McAlister. He was the first rector of the new Catholic University of Oklahoma in Shawnee (St. Gregory’s).

Hat of Fr. Timothy Murphy, OSB

Glass Negative of Fr. Timothy

Did you know that the MGMoA is a Blue Star Museum? We have been part of the National Endowment for the Arts program for many years now. Being a Blue Star Museum means that all active duty personnel and up to five family members receive free admission from Armed Forces Day (May 18, 2024) through Labor Day (September 2, 2024). But, the MGMoA decided that we wanted to do more for active and retired military, so the admission fee for active and retired military is half of the normal adult admission rate year round.

Fr. Gerrer painted two Choctaw code talkers from WWI – Otis Leader and Joseph Oklahombi. He painted a bust or headshot as well as a three-quarter length portrait of both men. Oklahombi was awarded the Silver Star with Victory Ribbon by General Pershing and the Croix de Guerre from France’s Marshal Henri-Philippe Petain. Otis Leader received a Purple Heart, two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Croix de Guerre. These men were two of 19 Choctaw code talkers who prevented the Germans from deciphering messages from the front lines by talking in their native language. This technique was used more frequently in WWII.

Joseph Oklahombi

Otis Leader

The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance during WWI, due to the poppy fields of Flanders. This was popularized by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem Flanders Fields. University of Georgia professor Moina Michael campaigned to have the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in the US. Anna Guérin and Earl Haig did the same in the UK.  The American Legion Auxiliary and the Royal British Legion sold poppies to support wounded veterans.

For more ideas for poppy art projects and videos, check out: www.mgmoa.org/art-projects 

Art Project: Poppy Flower

Paper plate or egg carton

Red paint or marker

Black paint or marker

scissors

Cut the paper plate or egg carton cup so that you have four petals.  Paint the plate or egg carton cup red for the flower petals.  Once dry, paint the very center black for the black seeds.

For something different, use watercolors on a coffee filter, then use a black button in the center for the seeds.  Be creative in your use of materials.