INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Indiana News Service) – News coverage is all about the election this week, but it is also Veterans Day. Today’s the day the country honors members of the military who have fought and sacrificed to protect everyone else.

Mark Paul John is a self-taught artist who’s traveling the country painting murals for police and fire departments and VFWs. He also donates paintings of military members to organizations so they can display them or use them to raise funds. He also hopes to inspire people to honor and support our veterans.

“There are a lot of organizations out there doing good things and helping out, but I don’t think there’s enough of ’em and I don’t think they’re helping quick enough, so, on my end, if I can help them raise money a little bit faster and maybe a little more, then maybe we can really make a difference in helping a lot of people,” he said.

John has artwork in several states across the country and also is currently installing ten murals at the Manteno Veteran’s home in Illinois.

He said it’s about recognizing the sacrifices that have been made.

“I travel to different firehouses in different states and just try and spread it around and let people kind of recognize the moment that we had on Sept. 12, 2001, and how our country united, and how we should pay tribute and honor our American heroes,” he added.

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11th, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War One. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938.