Having spent many years in New York as a freelance artist and illustrator, Lloyd Cedarholm has a keenly felt connection with that "greatest American city." Standing Tall, Tears and All, is his tribute to the indomitable American Spirit faced with the unspeakable horror and tragedy of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

In another time, Lloyd's response to an attack on America was to join the Navy, flying the famed "Hellcat" off carriers in the Pacific. Part of him, he says, wishes he could get back in his cockpit right now and fight for America once again.

After the war, Lloyd attended art school in New York. During his career in the "Big Apple," he did paintings and advertising illustrations for some of the country's largest corporations. He also found a niche doing overflow work for other artists because, as he says, he could paint in anyone's style! While in New York, he met and married Betty Hartley and they had two sons, Brett and Coby.

Moving his family back home to Kansas City in 1969, Lloyd worked for this city's largest agencies before returning to freelance art in 1988.

An avid biker, Lloyd has participated in "Biking Across Kansas" for the last 13 years. Now, in semi-retirement, he's finding the time to do the painting he has always wanted to do.

If you want to talk, God will listen.