Beta Sigma Phi, a national nonacademic women’s sorority, was recognized for its development of Honoring Iowa’s Heroes in the War on Terrorism program in a resolution from the House of Representatives on Monday.

The program was developed by Nu Lambda, the Ames chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

Its focus is recognizing Iowa soldiers and families of soldiers who have died or been injured while serving in the war on terrorism.

State Reps. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, and Jodi Tymeson, R-Winterset, members of the Honoring Iowa’s Heroes advisory council, drafted the resolution.

Heddens said the resolution had nothing to do with political parties.

“We felt Honoring Iowa’s Heroes was a statewide effort. It was not about a partisan issue at all,” Heddens said. “We want to support the families and acknowledge what they are going through.”

Nu Lambda developed the program in 2003 when the first round of deployed Iowa troops was returning home.

The sorority wanted to recognize the families that had lost a loved one while serving in the war on terror, said Tracy Andrle, Honoring Iowa’s Heroes in the War on Terrorism chairwoman.

Families of fallen soldiers were invited to Ames on Nov. 26 and 27 to meet other families who have lost a loved one in the war on terror and were recognized at the Iowa State-Missouri football game for the sacrifices that go along with having a family member serving the country.

“Families take on a lot of added stress when a loved one is in the military,” Heddens said. “The group wanted to publicly show their support for the family members.”

Andrle said families want something to commemorate their loved one who died.

“We talked with the families and their only wish was that their loved on would not be forgotten,” Andrle said.

A painting depicting the role of Iowans in the war on terror was unveiled and given to the state on Monday.

The painting, by Iowa artist David Rottinghaus, will permanently be displayed in the Capitol.

Honoring Iowa’s Heroes is selling the limited-edition painting to raise money to build a monument commemorating Iowans’ role in the war on terror.

It would be constructed either on Capitol grounds or at the new Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

Five hundred paintings are being sold unframed for $125 or framed for $300.

“We hope to unveil the monument around Thanksgiving 2006,” Andrle said. “It will be an opportunity to bring people together again.”