Shenandoah University, Navy Federal Unveil New Mural That Honors Veterans

By Jace Gibson ’26

In honor of military appreciation month, Shenandoah University unveiled a new mural, designed and installed on the exterior of Shingleton Hall by veteran artist John C. Zerbe, in collaboration with Navy Federal Credit Union.

The mural, which represents the transition from the military to civilian life, was revealed and celebrated during a special event on May 15. The event included remarks from Zerbe; Shenandoah University student Bryan McKane ’25, a veteran of the United States Marines Corps and president of the Shenandoah Veterans and Supporters group; Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.; and Dottie Day, vice president of Navy Federal’s Winchester and Contact Center operations. Randolph-Macon Academy’s color guard presented the nation’s colors, and Shenandoah’s Harambee Gospel choir performed the National Anthem.

“It was really nice being able to see the sort of connection between Navy Federal and Shenandoah, and just to get to hear a lot of those stories from the veterans here that maybe often go unheard or unnoticed. It felt really nice to be able to show them some appreciation for their achievements,” Zerbe said.

Zerbe is a U.S. Army veteran, artist, and community advocate. Born in Thailand, he came to America at age 4 and grew up in central Pennsylvania before later enlisting. After three years of service, Zerbe went on to use his artistic talents to honor his fellow veterans, as well as the civilian community that supports them. His mural at Shenandoah University, titled “Above and Beyond,” is a testament to that, paying homage to veterans and the community which supports them, both in and out of uniform.

The mural was commissioned by Navy Federal Credit Union in partnership with The Creative Cartel, an advertising agency located in Fairfax, Virginia. 

“It is so difficult to reinvent yourself as often as military life demands, and it can be really scary at times,” Day said. “Navy Federal is built on an understanding of those struggles. For us, it is important to show up for our members, and to be more than just a booking service.”

Zerbe spent about a month designing the mural and spent several days on Shenandoah’s main campus in Winchester, Virginia, in April illustrating it on the wall of Shingleton Hall, located next to the Brandt Student Center. Zerbe received support from additional artists and members of Shenandoah Veterans and Supporters (SVS) during the painting process.

SVS, a student-led organization that welcomes all members of the Shenandoah University community who are veterans, active duty, or wish to support military members and their families, was involved in the discussions surrounding the mural throughout the planning process.

Mohammad Obeid, Ph.D., program director of Shenandoah University’s Bachelor of Science in virtual and augmented reality design, also created an augmented reality companion app to add a level of interactivity to the mural.

“We live in a free, democratic society because of those who were willing to fight on our behalf, for us to be a democracy where we can all speak freely,” Dr. Fitzsimmons said. “As an institution of higher education, we recognize that our work would not be possible without the contributions and sacrifices of our active duty service members and veterans.”