Ever since Dr. Hilary Miller became director of the MTSU Veterans and Military Family Center and the center became a reality last November, she wanted to enhance the exterior walls in the first-floor Keathley University Center hallway.

Not only did she want the gray walls painted to reflect a welcoming appearance for all who approached the center's office door, but she also she hoped it might be performed by a veteran. Meetings were held; no artist's name surfaced.

Miller consulted Sisavanh Houghton, an art department associate professor. Houghton had an idea: former student Randy Purcell served in the military and he paints murals. Miller reached out to Purcell, a professional artist who was more than up for the task but was busy at the time.

Well, Miller eventually got her wish. Purcell (Class of 2009) got the commissioned job. And visitors to the center in KUC Room 124 -- a one-stop-shop for MTSU's student veterans and families -- will be beneficiaries of the artist's patriotic mural for years to come.

"It's pretty cool that we have a veteran, an alumnus and a professional artist that's doing this work," Miller said of Purcell's mural thus far. "We want folks to see this and hope people will stop by to visit."

Purcell, who has been commuting from his home in Hermitage, Tennessee, to campus for about two weeks to do the work, said the goal for both the center and him is to "make people feel welcome and this does that. ... It has really brightened up the hallway."

Trademark takeaways from the 70-foot-long and more than 500-square-foot endeavor include:

• A large American bald eagle about to land.

• A U.S. flag, "moving" as if blown by the wind.

• A painting of "Uncle Sam" on canvas and mounted to plywood and then framed.

Stars and stripes grace the walls throughout. The words "MTSU: Home of the Soldier Scholar" and "Welcome to the MTSU Veterans and Military Family Center" (as part of the Uncle Sam section) will greet guests. Purcell even found the font from the iconic Uncle Sam poster.

"I like the transition feel of the moving flag," Miller said. "I hope it conveys an idea of transitioning to the university after serving in the military and eventually transition out to a career."

Purcell, a fine arts major in the studio art concentration and an Operation Desert Storm veteran, said he is "just honored to be here to do this."

"It's a great center and it's my alma mater," he added. Purcell's wife, Tracy, earned her master's degree from the MTSU Jennings A. Jones College of Business.

Purcell anticipates the wall mural being completed by Wednesday, March 30. The Uncle Sam painting will be finished at home and added at a later date.

To learn more about his artistry, visit www.randylpurcell.com.