CLOVIS, CA, December 12th, 2003 – Shown above on the left is the painting –“-From Sea to Shining Sea” by Ping Xu, a collage of the Pelco Company’s two World Trade Center Memorials with Pelco’s Clovis, CA and Orangeburg, NY landscapes in the background. Shown on the right is Ping presenting her painting to Pelco President David McDonald.  Holding the painting is Ping's husband John Moroney.

Inspired by the kindness and consideration behind the creation of two World Trade Center Memorials, one at Pelco’s corporate headquarters in Clovis, CA and the other at its Orangeburg, NY East Coast Facility, New York State Artist Ping Xu wanted to add her own contribution.  This lead to her creation of the painting “From Sea to Shining Sea.” 

“I love to paint beautiful things like Claude Monet.  I am not a political artist.  After the tragic events of September 11^th I found it difficult to paint even breathe taking landscapes because of the great sorrow surrounding the nation.  I never even considered painting the sorrow and anguish of horrific scenes.  However, when I first saw the Memorial in Orangeburg and read the stories about both Memorials in the Pelco Press I knew that I wanted to make a contribution.  As I painted the Memorials I focused my thoughts and feelings not on the sorrow of the tragic event but on the love of this country for its fallen heroes.” 

Ping Xu first learned about Pelco and its Memorials in November when the company hired her husband John Moroney.  As a spouse of a Pelco employee, Ping Xu accompanied her husband to Clovis, CA to attend Pelco’s Holiday Party where she completed the “plein air” painting.