A Veteran’s Day Story

Remember the Light-The McDonald Windows

It is Veterans Day is the United States and the McDonald Windows are a perfect example of some of more interesting stories that Veterans have.

Fredrick McDonald (1908–2002) was an Army Chaplain under Gen.Omar Bradley during World War II in the European Theater. McDonald when looking for places to worship was dismayed by the destruction of churches in Europe. He started to save the small shards of glass from shattered stained glass windows. He would send these chards back home envelopes to his mom in Seattle. For the next 50 years they sat in a box.

One evening during a dinner party at his retirement home, he mentioned that he had a box of these chards in his room.

Before his death in 2002, he worked closely with Armelle LeRoux, the lead stained glass artist in bring these shreds back to life in art. The shreds have been turned into 25 works of art containing the original shreds and new glass. One of the cool things is that he shared his personal memory of each place the shards were found:

The First One

This is my favorite. The original picture of McDonald in the church during the war and the art that has been created

I was so lucky to see this. So super amazing. To my fellow Veterans, thank you for your service.