Local artist's painting reflects Officer Chesna's military service

BOSTON, Mass. — A local artist ​created an oil painting reflecting fallen Weymouth Police Officer Michael Chesna's military service.

Officer Chesna had several tours of duty in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. His LinkedIn profile indicates he served in the U.S. Army in Fort Drum, New York from November 2006 through June 2011.

Margaret Sheldon's "Soldier's Cover" is an oil painting of Officer Chesna's hat from when he served in the U.S. Army. Officer Chensa's mother is Sheldon's co-worker.

Sheldon referred to Officer Chesna's hat as a token.

"It represents service to our country, a son returned home to safety and a mother who sleeps soundly because the hat is in her house these days, no longer in a place she dared not imagine for nearly two years," said Sheldon.

Officer Chesna's mom has held onto his hat since his return home.

"She wears it every now and then, when she and her husband take road trips in their convertible," said Sheldon. "I like the thought that the convertible and the hat are reserved for these special, sunny occasions."

Sheldon looked at the hat for a week before daring to paint it.

"What an honor to have it in my studio, and an even bigger honor to paint it. I considered where it's been, what's it's witnessed," said Sheldon. "But I couldn't get past what it must have meant to my friend to receive it, and how generous she is to share it with me."

Officer Chesna was killed by a man Sunday fleeing the scene of a car crash near South Shore Hospital.

Officer Chesna was a 1994 Weymouth High School graduate who always dreamed of being a police officer in his hometown.

Weymouth Police Chief Richard Grimes spoke with Officer Chesna's mom Sunday about her son's career.

"She told me he joined the military to open the doors for him in order to get on this job. He was successful with that," Chief Grimes told reporters during a news conference.

Monday would have marked Officer Chesna's six year anniversary with the Weymouth Police Department.

Cox Media Group