Brigadier General Lowell E Kruse

I was introduced to Lowell E. Kruse years ago when he was promoted to Brigadier General and Assitant Adjutant Geeral of the Minnesota National Guard. At the time, I was immersed in the completion of a huge project--the Veterans Educational Historic Monument--a series of five paintings highlighting the stories of the men and women of each branch of the US military. The paintings are installed at the Mn State Veterans Cemetery, which is adjacent to Camp Ripley, which General Kruse, as the senior commanding officer, oversaw during that time. General Kruse embraced both the project I was working on, and over the years we became good friends.

One of the areas of commonality is an appreication for history--and in General Kruse's case--military history and true loves of horses. This drawing captures him as an historic calvary figure, wearing a WW1 uniform, much like that of General John. J. Pershing, whom Lowell admired.