As the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division draws closer to returning home from its deployment, brigade officials are in the midst of creating a piece of art that captures the success of the deployment.

The Raider Brigade is working with Seattle artist James Dietz to create "The Last Patrol."

The print will symbolize the triumphs of the Raider Brigade as it assisted the Iraqi Security Forces and government of Iraq in forging ahead on the road to both democracy and independence, according to brigade officials.

"As many of our soldiers will never forget their last memories of this deployment, so will many of the Iraqis not forget the mentorship, partnership and friendships that now connect our two countries in an enduring strategic partnership," officials said in a release.

Dietz, who has done art for other Stryker units as well as Boeing, Bell Helicopter, Federal Express, Allison, Cessna, the Indianapolis 500 and BMW, had several meetings with brigade officials and spent a lot of time looking over pictures taken on the deployment in order to get the overall feel of the deployment.

"They want to capture something that is close to what happens every day out there," Dietz said.

That means a piece of art portraying soldiers conducting a street patrol with a Stryker vehicle in a street market setting, he said.

"A really good painting can capture the experience of a unit better than photographs," Dietz said. "It gains some sort of transcending quality in some way more than a photo."

The print, which is in the early stages of being completed, will be officially dedicated in November at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Making sure the true feeling of the deployment is captured in his art is something very important to Dietz.

"I have a lot of respect for guys in the military," he said.

For more information on ordering a print, e-mail the Raider Brigade print representative Maj. Michael Harding at michael.harding@4bct2id.army.mil or at Joint Base Lewis McChord, contact 2nd. Lt. Cody Gettinger at cody.gettinger@us.army.mil.