Artist to Paint Giant American Flag as Tribute to Tampa Wounded Warrior

World-renowned patriotic artist Scott LoBaido is creating a giant "thank you" to Tampa Bay for its support of wounded warrior and South Tampa resident Sgt. Mike Nicholson.

LoBaido is painting an 80- by 30-foot American flag mural to serve as a constant reminder and "thank you" to the Tampa Bay area for supporting Nicholson and the military community.

On July 6, 2011, Nicholson, 22, was on combat foot patrol in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device exploded in his path. Although Nicholson survived, both legs and his left arm had to be amputated. In addition, he suffered a brain injury.

LoBaido will begin work on the mural on the north side of the Tampa Firefighters Museum, 720 E. Zack St., in downtown Tampa, Monday, May 6 at 9 a.m. and will host a press conference and sign his artwork Tuesday, May 7 at 2 p.m.

LoBaido also will perform in a benefit concert May 10 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa, featuring actor Gary Sinise's band, the Lt. Dan Band.

The concert is being sponsored by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, named for firefighter Stephen Siller who perished in the Twin Towers Sept. 11, 2001, and the Gary Sinise Foundation to raise funds to build Nicholson a "Smart Home."

The two foundations created the program, "Building for America's Bravest," to raise money to build homes for severely injured military personnel. Each "Smart Home" is custom designed for the homeowner to allow the recipient to live as independently as possible.

Since launching the program, the foundations have financed the construction of six "Smart Homes" and are in the process of building 13 more.

Gates for the May 10 Lt. Dan Band concert open at 6 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 general admission and $75 VIP and can be purchased at www.SupportMikeNicholson.com/.

Actors Sinise and Kimo Williams formed the Lt. Dan Band in 2003 after discovering their mutual love of music.

The name comes from the "Lieutenant Dan" character Sinise played in the 1994 film, Forrest Gump. The band plays 30 to 40 charity concerts a year, covering pop, rock, blues, Motown, soul and country songs.