Alfonso E. Salazar

Last Saturday at the @lunaparkarts chalk festival, I paid tribute to Samson, the support dog who was able to help Emilio @duppyconqueror_ deal with the emotional scars that he suffered during the war in Iraq that took place in the early 2OOOs. I started chalking the composition on the 8 by 8 ft concrete that is part of the walkway there at Backesto Park and completed it towards the end of the festival. It was well received by the people who attended and I am grateful some of Emilio’s family were there to take it in as I was working on the art. Special thank you to Emilio’s daughter Seryna @norcalneedles who had provided me various photos to help me put this composition together before getting to the park to color them up.

I learned about Emilio through my sister, who is friends with Emilio’s mother. She let my sister know about the documentary called BY MY SIDE that features Emilio along with two other local veterans. After the doc was completed it was featured at various film festivals throughout the country. It is now available to stream online via PBS. I have the documentary’s official website’s link in my bio. It is a moving documentary that showcases the military veterans and the magnificent dogs who are there by their side to support them. I highly recommend this documentary.

Thank you to all neighbors, friends, and family who attended. That really helped me get it completed. Special thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make Saturday’s event a truly beautiful day.

And to all those who have served or are currently serving in the military: Thank you

#supportdogs #friends #family #bymyside #ptsd
@bymyside.doc