U.S. Air Force veteran Jason Whitaker performs “Every Brilliant Thing,” by Duncan Mac Millan and Jonny Donahoe, in the War Memorial Building on Monday night. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Veterans Day came to a close late on Monday night in Shepherdstown, with the conclusion of the “Shepherdstown Honors Veterans” event in the War Memorial Building.

The event started off at the beginning of the night with an art show featuring the work of local veterans, along with drawings and letters inspired by Veterans Day, made by students from Shepherdstown Elementary School and Jefferson High School’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, respectively.

Shepherd University alumnus Robert Scott, who is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and California National Guard, displayed a number of his ink drawings, ink and acrylic drawings and digital images at the show. For him, this event was a unique twist on the typical Veterans Day commemoration ceremony.

“The drawings were all created recently, over the last two years,” Scott said. “I was a photographer in the Air Force and a photographer and graphic designer in the National Guard. So it shows a number of the skills I developed throughout that time.”

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kim Workman’s mix media piece, “Euphoria,” in contrast, featured artistic skills that she has developed in the years since her time in the military.

From left to right, Shepherdstown residents Shannon Holliday, Caitlin Lane and Aaron Blessing enjoy some refreshments at the “Shepherdstown Honors Veterans” art show on Monday night. Tabitha Johnston

“This is an excellent way to show that there is life beyond the military!” Workman, who served from 1996-2001, said. “When veterans finish their time of service, they start trying to figure out, ‘Okay, what do I do now?’ For me personally, I had a span of time where I was a wife and a mother. So I took care of and raised my children and, when they got older and didn’t need me as much, then it was time for me to be able to go back to school! I had the opportunity and I took it!”

Workman is currently enrolled in Shepherd University’s painting and drawing program. Next semester, she will be displaying more pieces of her work in her capstone art show in town.

“Art is an excellent way to be able to express oneself. I think being able to get more veterans to be able to showcase their art is an awesome idea!” Workman said. “Hopefully, this continues and we’ll be able to get more veterans to participate!”

Shepherdstown Honors Veterans organizer Jason Whitaker brought the event to a close with his performance of “Every Brilliant Thing,” by Duncan Mac Millan and Jonny Donahoe. The one-man performance engaged the audience in talking about a struggle that many veterans deal with — depression. However, Whitaker noted that the play was written about a civilian, ensuring that all audience members could empathize with the character’s life experiences.

“I feel like it speaks to everyone!” Whitaker, who served two tours with the U.S. Air Force in Iraq, said. “It also engages with everybody — it’s not one of those plays where people end up sitting back and falling asleep. Over the next few years, I hope to be able to take this on tour!”

Marine and Shepherd University junior painting major Kim Workman, right, talks about her painting with Chris and Liz Coltrin, of Shepherdstown, in the War Memorial Building on Monday. Tabitha Johnston

Two of the people who came to the event were Shepherd University art history professor Chris Coltrin and his wife, Liz. The couple were excited to see the artwork of one of their sons featured in the show, alongside other drawings from his class at Shepherdstown Elementary School. They said they came out to the event, initially, because Coltrin had taught two of the artists featured in it — Workman and Whitaker.

“Anything we can do to celebrate the sacrifices is a good thing!” Coltrin said, before commenting on the decision to have an art-focused Veterans Day celebration in Shepherdstown. “Art is nice, because it gives you some insight into the veterans’ humanity, more than riding on the back of a car in a parade or something like that can do.”