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Artist On Coast-To-Coast Mission Picks Pittsburgh Veterans Post As His Canvas

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- He calls himself a painter and a patriot.

New York native Scott LoBadio is on a coast-to-coast tour, painting huge murals of American Flags in all 50 states.

He started in February, and this weekend, he's in Pittsburgh.

Scott chooses a Veterans Post in each state as his canvas. He singled out the Sgt. James P. Crysler Memorial Post 6675 on the South Side as Pennsylvania's location.

His mission is to honor those who served in the nation's Armed Forces.

"I shake their hands all the time, but I need to do something bigger, so here I am on my 35th stop," LoBadio told KDKA as he took a break from his brush-strokes.

He says he never takes his freedom of creative expression for granted.

"For an artist, that's the most wonderful feeling in the world, and I don't think enough of us creative people realize why we have that," he said. "That's because of the men and women who hang out in the buildings like this. They're the superheroes. They're the celebrities."

Post Commander Bob Szoszorek wants the mural to be a symbol of liberty and freedom for all Pittsburghers.

"I hope they are as proud as I am and have a good feeling about the whole situation. Because it's a great privilege to be chosen for this mural," said Szoszorek.

It will take Scott about six months to paint a flag in each of the 50 states.

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