A Salute to Service: METRO Celebrates Veteran Employees’ Creativity

In honor of Veterans Day, METRO hosted an art show to celebrate the men and women of America’s armed forces. The event not only highlighted their service, but also showcased the employees’ remarkable artistic talents across various mediums.

Among the featured artists was Bently Henderson, a Navy veteran with 17 years of service, including 10 years in a fighting squadron. Now a Rail Maintenance Trainer at METRO, Henderson creates striking impressionist art using markers on 3x5 index cards.

“Instead of mixing the colors with watercolors, I overlap the shades and let my eyes mix them for me,” Henderson said.

METRORail Maintenance Trainer Bently Henderson

Bryon Nicholas, a 21-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has always had a passion for capturing the world around him. His military journey took him from combat arms to food services, where he became a chef before eventually transitioning to human relations.

Along the way, his love for photography became a constant. When traveling for METRO, Nicholas seizes the opportunity to explore new places, capturing memories through his camera lens.

“Whenever I see something that catches my eye, I just pull out my camera. I always keep my camera with me,” said Nicholas.

The art show is one of the many ways METRO celebrates the diversity and talent of its workforce. Similar events have honored Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with plans to make these showcases annual traditions.

Participants in this year’s show include:

Ebony Clark, Staffing Representative I - U.S. Marine Corps

Bently Henderson, Rail Maintenance Trainer - U.S. Navy 

Brianna Jacobs, Staffing Coordinator - U.S. Army

Daniel Martinez, Bus Operator -  U.S. Army

Byron Nicholas, Interim Dir. Transportation Service Ops. - U.S. Marine Corps

Gillian Pugh, Superintendent - U.S. Navy

Robert Smith, MPD Officer - U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and TX. National Guard 

Willie Yarbrough, Bus Operator - U.S. Marine Corps