About Anita Miller, Mike Strahle, The Artist's Roost, and The Dream

Anita grew up working with her hands, learning Danish needle-crafts from her mother. Quilting and sewing in liturgical art led her to drawing and painting which she began around age 30. Always interested in the intersection of science, spirit and the healing arts, Anita became a Clinical Medical Support Hypnotherapist in order to further her interest in helping people utilize their mind-body connection for healing. At her studio, The Artist's Roost, in Westerville she helps people explore their inner healer through art (drawing and painting) and hypnotherapy.

Like so many people in Ohio who heard of the Lima Company tragedies in 2005, Anita's heart tore for the families of the fallen and prayed to be able to help. Two months later, she awoke in the middle of the night with a vision of the completed Memorial standing in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda. The vision was a first in a series of miracles.

The artist worked for the next two and a half years to make it a reality. Her friend, Liz Bravender created a not for profit organization, Lima Company Memorial, in order to support Anita's work and assembled a team dedicated to helping to heal the pain of the Lima Company losses through the Memorial. Through the gracious kindness of Senators Harris and Finan and with the help of the Columbus State House Review and Advisory Board, the Lima Company Memorial was unveiled in the Rotunda in May, 2008 and was displayed for six months. The paintings then began its tour to other museums and events.

The Lima Company Memorial now travels the country, through the generosity of R + L Carriers and individuals who also feel passionately about honoring the gift of service and sacrifice of our men and women in service.

Retiring from Lima Company 3/25 and seeing The Eyes of Freedom unveiled at the Statehouse in 2008, Mike Strahle knew he had witnessed something truly special. The bonds formed with these 23 men while fighting alongside them made the life-size portraits difficult to view at first, yet a sense of honor and remembrance soon prevailed.

Three years later he would contact Anita Miller, the artist and creator of The Eyes of Freedom, requesting to host the memorial at a Veteran's Support fundraiser he founded. It was this reunion that sparked the passing of the baton from its creator to the hands of a brother in arms. The artist and the Marine now share a relentless desire to make this memorial available to all in need of remembrance and healing, all over the country. For Mike this mission is personal. He too was badly injured in the explosion that took six of his squad members, two more fell to enemy fire just days prior.

As part of The Eyes of Freedom Team, Mike now witnesses the same cycle of emotions in the public's eyes that he and his fellow Marines experienced at the Statehouse unveil. Even if you haven't personally lost a loved one in this modern war, the eyes of the fallen men of Lima 3/25 will move you to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

The little log cabin affectionately known as the Roost was originally an army outpost. Built in 1830, the hand hewn beams exude warmth and reverence for men and women of service. Anita expanded the studio to accommodate the painting of the Lima Company Memorial, where the families of the fallen were able to come to assist Anita in the painting of their sons.