Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "WWII - The War Ends, Veterans Return" Signed lower right. Original watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 32c The War Ends, Veterans Return stamp issued September 2, 1995. As servicemen returning from the war stepped off planes and ships, they were hailed by bands and welcomed home by military personnel. Exuberant at their return, many bent down to kiss the American ground they had not seen in years. Technology and growth had continued to blossom while they were at war. One soldier exclaimed, "Here you see new construction. There all you saw was new destruction." Each soldier made a telephone call to a loved one, some hearing for the first time the voices of children who had been born after they had left for the war. The simple luxuries of a good barber and a glass of fresh, ice-cold milk pleased veterans as they waited to board trains for the final leg of their journey, home to their families. Many returning soldiers suffered post-war trauma. In one instance, a bus transporting wounded soldiers from a ship to a nearby hospital was in an accident while traveling in rush-hour traffic. All were taken off the bus and placed on the side of the road to wait for another vehicle. Soon, a few Navy aircraft flew overhead, and instinctively every patient flung himself into a nearby ditch fearing an air attack. Incidents such as this revealed that for many returning veterans, coming home to a changed society was difficult. To aid them in the transition, the U.S. government passed the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights. Today, this law continues to benifit military personnel. Image Size: 15.75 x 12 in. Overall Size: 23 x 18 in. Unframed. (B15192)