Honor rolls
<p>Kent Lundine, of Casper, Wyoming, uses the controls at the rear of his Chevy pickup to lift the body, exposing the chassis and underside mural-like artwork Friday in front of the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The truck, honoring wounded soldiers and veterans, is in town as part of this weekend’s Car d’Lane.</p>
<p>The Wounded Warrior truck is blanketed with airbrushed artwork of military scenes.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - There are muscle cars, pony cars, hot rods and street rods rolling through the Lake City this weekend, but there is only one truck like the one that was parked Friday in front of The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
"It's honoring our heroes," said Kent Lundine, of Casper, Wyo., who with his wife, Avis, owns the custom-configured 2005 Chevrolet Silverado.
With every inch hand-painted, the "Heroes Truck" is a rolling tribute to the defenders, rescuers and protectors of U.S. citizens and the American way of life.
The truck features detailed images honoring the men and women in all branches of the military, firefighters, police officers and historic leaders.
Lundine said he bought the truck about two years ago. It is often used as a display piece to raise money for the Wounded Warriors Foundation, he said.
Building and painting the truck took more than five years.
The images are the work of Mickey Harris, one of the top airbrush artists in the U.S.
While most of the vehicles in town for Car d'Lane are fun, exciting and impressive in their own right, the Heroes Truck evokes a different kind of response.
"It gives me chills," said one woman as she admired the vehicle on Friday.
Painted on the underside of the truck's bed-cover, visible when it's propped up, is a mural that depicts a man standing beside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. With his head bent down, he's holding his hand to the wall as "ghost soldiers" hover over. The Washington Monument can be seen in the distance.
Various military campaigns throughout history and iconic images come to life on the truck's fenders and doors. George Washington can be seen crossing the Potomac. Colin Powell is seen speaking to the troops. The famous image of a World War II sailor kissing his girl is there too.
Historic leaders like Albert Einsten and Martin Luther King are also featured, along with the Founding Fathers and several presidents.
The tailgate offers a tribute to 9-11, with a mural of the New York City skyline as a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter circles nearby.
There are troop ships, fighter planes and destroyers on the doors, each representing a real military vehicle used at some time in history.
"We were at the VA in Sheridan (Wyoming) and one of the veterans pointed to one of the ships and said he was on that ship," said Avis Lundine.
The path of a torpedo is visible as it careens along the bottom of the driver's-side door and toward the rear of the cab.
The stars and stripes and images of eagles are prominent in the paint work. There are less easily visible images - angels, ghost soldiers and eagle eyes - hidden throughout.
The truck, which lights up and plays music, is expected to be in Coeur d'Alene, likely parked at The Resort, until Sunday.