The director of a website dedicated to veterans with artistic talents has selected Labor Day weekend for an exhibit at Kevin McElroy Fine Violins and Bows, located at 457 U.S. Route 1 in Freeport.

James Emerson said the American Veterans Arts & Crafts Gallery showing is set for Sept. 3, 4 and 5, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Both McElroy and Emerson hope the show will generate considerable proceeds for veterans who need some help. McElroy said he heard Emerson talking up a potential site for a show on Maine Public Radio, and decided to give him a call.

“I’m not a veteran, but my father, Stephen, served with the Army in Korea,” McElroy said. “What I’m doing for this group is small beans compared to what they are doing for us. This veterans arts gallery is a great idea.”

Both McElroy and Emerson said they know of no Freeport area veterans who have entered the show, but they’re not giving up. McElroy has sent out feelers through friends, including Steve Colby of Freeport, a Vietnam War veteran.

“He’s put the word out and hopefully we’ll get somone,” he said.

Emerson, who suffered a chest wound in 1968 while serving with the Army in  Vietnam, said he is thrilled with the opportunity to showcase veterans’ art in Freeport. He recalled the radio interview earlier this summer.

“We’ve had shows in different places,” Emerson said. “When I was doing the interview, I asked about space for the giving. Kevin McElroy heard the clip, and he contacted me. I went and looked at his space and loved it. We decided that Labor Day weekend would be a good time to do this for a big turnout. We’ll distribute posters around town.”

McElroy said that up to 20 veterans will be at the Freeport show, and the works of 30-40 Maine veterans will be on display.

In addition to paintings, the Freeport show will feature cutting boards, photography, model shipbuilding, 3-D art and books.

Emerson, now 68 and living near Bangor in Hudson, was 19 when he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest during combat. He returned to active duty the next year. Emerson still sees a counselor for post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It never goes away,” he said. “It’s like if you lose a foot, it never goes away, you just deal with it.”

Retired since 2010 from New England Kenworth, a Bangor truck dealership, Emerson paints landscapes and portraits. Upon retirement, his counselor asked Emerson if he could help another veteran to sell his art.

“On my next appointment, I contacted that veteran and we started an arts-and-crafts group,” he said. “We started the website (www.veteransartsandcrafts.com), in February 2011.”

Francis Lariviere of Portland will have his 3-D art for sale at an American Veterans Arts & Crafts Gallery showing Sept. 3, 4 and 5 in Freeport.

A novel entitled “Annie’s Odyssey,” by Keith Plouffe of Mt. Vernon, will be available for purchase on Labor Day weekend during the American Veterans Arts & Crafts Gallery show at Kevin McElroy Fine Violins and Bows, located at 457 U.S. Route 1 in Freeport.

A closer look

The American Veterans Arts & Crafts Gallery Showing will run Saturday, Sept. 3 to Monday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m-5 p.m., at Kevin McElroy Fine Violins and Bows, 457 U.S. Route 1, Freeport. On exhibit will be arts and crafts produced by American veterans, including paintings, photography, 3-D art, model shipbuilding, plus poetry and writings of Maine veterans. Proceeds benefit veterans. For more information, see www.veteransartsandcrafts.com.