Priscilla Messner-Patterson’s original oil painting “Operation White Christmas” is on loan to the Coast Guard’s special advisor for homeland security to the vice president.

The painting depicts a Coast Guard mission undertaken in December 2003, when crews were deployed to Prince William Sound, Alaska, to protect the area surrounding the Alaska Pipeline from suspected terrorist activity.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has been on a heightened state of alert, protecting more than 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline on America’s longest border.

Messner-Patterson is a member of the Air Force and Coast Guard art programs. Paintings by artist members are donated to the military and are part of traveling exhibits displayed all over the world to show the missions of men and women in uniform through art.

Her original works are on display at The Dove’s Nest in Sequim until Dec. 31 and at the current Sequim Arts show at the Museum and Arts Center.