East Jefferson General Hospital's Wellness Center Celebrates Veterans Day With Artist on a Mission to Honor Veterans

About two years ago, Charles Gregerson painted a Father's Day gift for his father-in-law. 

He didn't realize it marked the start of a mission. 

Gregerson's father-in-law, an Air Force veteran, loved the personalized military theme of the painting. Gregerson had created it to honor his service. 

Gregerson intended the painting as a one-time gesture of appreciation, but when other veterans saw it, the requests began trickling in. Soon, one painting became several. 

"It's just taken off crazy," said Gregerson, a Louisiana resident since he was 5. "People are coming out of the woodwork." 

All told, Gregerson has now donated 16 military-themed paintings to veterans, mostly throughout the New Orleans area. His goal: give away 100. 

This Veterans Day, Gregerson will continue the effort by presenting a painting to the keynote speaker at an annual ceremony honoring veterans held by East Jefferson General Hospital's Wellness Center. It will mark the second consecutive year Gregerson has donated one of his paintings to the event's featured veteran. 

Turning Stories Into Art 

For Gregerson, who never served in the military, the project isn't really about the paintings. 

It's about the stories. 

Before beginning a piece, he spends time learning about a veteran's military service. He asks where they served, what branch they belonged to and what experiences stayed with them long after they left the military. 

Those conversations become the foundation for the artwork. 

A Navy veteran may receive a painting featuring a submarine or aircraft carrier. A Coast Guard veteran might see a cutter, helicopter or service insignia incorporated into the design. Other paintings include military branch seals, unit emblems and scenes inspired by a veteran's service. 

"Every time I do a painting, I get a story," Gregerson said. 

One of his favorite stories involves a Navy veteran he met while playing volleyball. 

The two began talking about military service. Gregerson listened, asked questions and quietly filed away the details. A few weeks later, he completed a painting inspired by the veteran's experience and brought it to a volleyball game. 

The veteran had no idea it was coming. 

"He was blown away," Gregerson said. 

Those reactions are among the reasons Gregerson keeps painting. 

A Chance to Learn From Veterans 

Gregerson, a retired electrician and karate instructor, says he has learned about military life from veterans representing every branch of service and multiple generations. Many of the stories, he says, are ones he would never have heard otherwise. 

"I should be writing a book about these stories, but I'm not a writer," he said. "I'm just a guy out there trying to do good with something I can do." 

Gregerson has been a member of the East Jefferson General Hospital Wellness Center for several years. Operated by LCMC Health, the center combines traditional fitness offerings with medically focused exercise and wellness programs while also serving a broad range of community members. 

According to Jessica Hotard, the Wellness Center's director, Gregerson is known for donating artwork for fundraisers, military events, and other causes. 

"He's not in it for the money," Hotard said. "He's in it to honor the veterans, it’s very admirable and inspirational.” 

Hotard said Gregerson regularly offers artwork without expecting anything in return. 

"He's just always donated," she said. "He never wants anything in return." 

The Wellness Center's Veterans Day observance has grown over nearly 15 years from a small gathering into a larger annual event that draws dozens of attendees and honors those who have served. Gregerson's paintings are now part of that tradition. 

Recognition Isn't the Point 

For his part, Gregerson remains uncomfortable with attention. 

In fact, he would often prefer to give away a painting without anyone knowing where it came from. 

"I just want them to be happy they got it," he said. "I don't need the recognition." 

Gregerson doesn't really seek out requests. He finds potential recipients by happenstance — one at a hardware store, another at the grocery store, a third during a European vacation. 

"I guess it's just the people I'm supposed to meet," he says. 

He's further along toward his goal than it might appear, given that he has 25 paintings in the works, about 85 percent complete. He says 100 is just a nice, round number he thought might be achievable. If the total goes above 100, he'll be happy with that, too. 

But Gregerson isn't keeping score. 

"What I'm doing is a small thing," he said. "But if it makes somebody happy, then it's worth it."