Tom Fink
October 8, 2008 — When Murray Estabrook took a group of Claremore High School ROTC cadets to Pearl Harbor for the dedication of the USS Oklahoma Memorial, he could not have anticipated their likenesses being incorporated into a painting in honor of the event.
“After our participation with the (USS Oklahoma) Memorial ceremonies, we were contacted by an artist who had been commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate to commemorate the events in a painting,” said Estabrook, commander, Claremore High School ROTC.
“He had been at Pearl Harbor for the dedication ceremonies, but the photos he’d taken didn’t have the desired detail for painting.
“So, this summer, we took three cadets to Oklahoma City, where he took a series of photographs — about 40 — of the cadets to provide better detail,” he said. “The commissioned painting is now complete and will be unveiled Wednesday in the State Chamber at the Capitol Building and will be on permanent display thereafter.”
The painting by Christopher Nick of Oklahoma City depicts two USS Oklahoma survivors paying their respects at the markers of their fallen comrades. The three Claremore students — junior Cody Marts, and sophomores Kevin Kutchka and John Marshall — are seen in the background carrying flags.
“It’s a remarkable painting, and the students were very honored to be included in it,” Estabrook said.
