Heather Dalling must have an angel on her shoulder.
Using a collection of ordinary items, the Oxford resident took a leap of faith and transformed them into an angelic work of art that earned statewide recognition.
‘I’m really excited and surprised,? Dalling said. ‘It’s not something I had anticipated. I’ve never sculpted anything before or done anything like this.?
She created the first place Auxiliary Display in the Buddy Poppy Contest at the 36th Mid-Winter Conference for the Department of Michigan Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) held in Lansing.
This year’s theme was ‘Veterans? Angels: Protecting Those That Protected Us.?
Dalling created the display to represent North Oakland VFW Ladies Auxiliary 334 in the contest.
‘We were just ecstatic,? said Auxiliary President Kathy Hubbard. ‘Ours really was the best. ‘Everybody walked over to (look at) ours.?
Dalling’s display features an angel holding an American flag surrounded by various symbols representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and bright red poppies, the official memorial flower of the VFW since the early 1920s.
‘It was just breathtaking,? Hubbard said. ‘When I first saw it, I had no words. I couldn’t even speak.?
The display is 20 inches tall and 18 inches wide.
Dalling, who’s a relatively new auxiliary member, designed and constructed the display using clay, tissue paper, foam, wire and fabric, then hand-painted it.
‘I think it’s a beautiful piece,? she said. ‘It’s really very powerful to me ? an angel watching over those that provide us with the freedoms that we have.?
Dalling estimated it took her 12 to 15 hours to create.
‘It was exactly as I pictured it in my mind,? she said.
A woman depicted on a vintage VFW Buddy Poppy poster from 1930s served as her inspiration.
‘I wanted to do something really different than the typical angels,? she explained.
So why did Dalling agree to create this display if she’s never done anything like this before?
‘I have a tendency of seeing things I want to try and just jumping in with both feet,? she explained. ‘I never do a practice run. If I do something, I just go for it. I go full bore. It generally works out for me. I wasn’t really concerned. I knew I’d figure it out somehow.?
Dalling’s angel display will go on to compete at the 102nd Annual Ladies Auxiliary VFW National Convention July 18-22 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
She feels ‘really confident? about her work’s chances, but honestly doesn’t know what to expect in terms of her competition’s level of creativity, so she can’t make any predictions.
‘I’m just honored to be going to the national level,? Dalling said.
Win or lose at nationals, Hubbard can’t wait to see what Dalling’s creativity yields next year.
‘She’s extremely gifted and talented,? she said.
North Oakland VFW Ladies Auxiliary 334 was chartered in September 2013.
The group currently has 111 members and is still recruiting.
In order to be eligible for the Ladies Auxiliary, members must be related to deceased or honorably discharged veterans who were or are eligible for VFW membership.
Auxiliary members must also be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old.
The group meets on the third Thursday of the month at Oxford American Legion Post 108 located at 130 E. Drahner Rd.