Today, I salute Coast Guard Veteran Zandra Sneed-Dawkins. Zandra was 22 when she decided to serve her country. When she enlisted in the Coast Guard, she did it to help her mother. That commitment to her mother and country turned into 24 years of service as a yeoman. Missions took Zandra to the other side of the world, from Australia, and two tours in Antarctica. When her service was done, she used the G.I. Bill to earn her bachelor’s degree in fine arts, continuing her passion for creativity. It’s that creativity that grew into a way to honor Veterans through her artwork. Starting in March, Zandra will paint a mural on the pillars under the Kansas Avenue Bridge in Topeka. She hopes it will be a place for Veterans to connect and a place to leave her legacy for her kids, grandkids, and whoever comes by to look at her artwork. Thank you for sharing your gift, Zandra, and THANK YOU for your service.
