Nun honored in military mural

Coast Guard veteran Sister Mary Maney, RDC, who attended Cathedral Academy in Albany and Siena College in Loudonville, was chosen as one of five veterans whose portraits were painted to go along with 80 black-and-white photographs that make up the mural at the state college she also went to.

As World War II raged back in 1944, the Divine Compassion sister recalled, "my friends and I wanted to go into the service for patriotism." She chose to join the Coast Guard as a SPAR -- the term refers to the motto "semper paratus, always ready" -- because doing so would free up a male recruit for active duty.

'Adventure'

"It was a chance for a little adventure," she said, adding tongue-in-cheek that boot camp was good preparation for the convent.

The young woman went to "yeoman school" to learn typing, shorthand and correspondence using nautical terms, and then worked in offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Technically, her duties included billing and other clerical work; but since a Coast Guard chaplain's office was next door, she was often called on to be a witness at weddings, as well.

Religious life

In June, she happened to attend the dedication of the 36-foot-long mural by artist Dahl Taylor at The University at Albany, which honors a total of 3,000 alumni who have served in various branches of the military, when her niece spotted her picture. The nun was taken aback when she realized it was indeed her.

"I had no idea! I said, `Oh, it couldn't be!' I had to get up closer," Sister Mary remembered, laughing.

She called the mural, whose paintings are done in an oil wash, "lovely to see. The artist said he picked out faces that had simplicity about them, but a dedication or commitment to them."

Up in lights

"This really makes things come full circle," she said, adding excitedly: "I think in November, they're going to put [a story] in the Coast Guard reserve magazine!"

(For information about the Veterans Wall of Honor, go to www.albany.edu/veterans/.)

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