WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the help of Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the family of a late Brainerd World War II veteran and war hero saw - for the first time Thursday - a portrait painted in 1944 to honor his heroism. The painting has hung for years in a Pentagon Gallery without the family's knowledge and until recently when they visited the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., they had never seen it.
The portrait of Air Force Sgt. Roy Schellin, painted by prominent painter and muralist Charles Baskerville, has hung in the Pentagon as part of a collection celebrating war heroes for many years without his family knowing with certainty that it existed and was on display. Sen. Franken worked with Pentagon officials to confirm the portrait's existence and to help arrange a visit by the family to see it, since it is located in an area of the Pentagon that is not generally open to the public.
Schellin earned both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart for shooting down two enemy fighters, even after losing the use of his right arm from wounds suffered during a 1943 air battle over France. He died in 2012 without having visited the painting at the Pentagon honoring his heroism.
In mid-March, Schellin's daughter, Caralee Bjerkness of Brainerd, contacted Franken for help in finding out if the portrait existed and if it was on display in the Pentagon. Franken had his staff work with Pentagon officials who quickly confirmed that it is hanging in the Pentagon as part of the U.S. Air Force's Art Collection.
"It was amazing to see the portrait of my father at the Pentagon," said Bjerkness. "We were so happy that Sen. Franken could make such a memorable visit possible. It was a once in a lifetime experience."
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"I'm pleased that after all these years, Sgt. Schellin's family was able to see the portrait that honors his heroism in World War II," said Sen. Franken. "I was very excited when the Pentagon confirmed for me that the portrait does exist. This Minnesota veteran was a war hero and it was an honor to help ensure his family could view the portrait honoring his service."
After leaving the Air Force and returning to Brainerd, Schellin was active in the Brainerd VFW.
