New York ( CNN ) -- A religious mural depicting two military servicemen was unveiled Sunday after 60 years hidden away . The painting was unveiled at the historic St. Peter 's Chelsea church in Manhattan just in time for Veterans Day . In 1946 , St. Peter 's installed the painting by Ted Witonski , titled `` Our Lord Blessing a Soldier and a Sailor . '' It features two men in uniform kneeling before Jesus . The congregation decided in 1954 to cover the painting because of its militaristic themes , according to a news release from the parish . Witonski ahd enlisted the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor and quickly rose to the rank of colonel during World War II , his son , Peter Witonski , told CNN . Back from the war , Witonski found a home at St. Peter 's . `` He simply wanted to show that Americans won the war . And here they are , having won the war not going out and getting drunk but kneeling down and praying , '' Peter Witonski said . The decision to cover the painting came sometime after Witonski moved away , his son told CNN . Witonski had no idea that the painting was hidden under a curtain , his son added . `` I think he would have been hurt , '' Peter Witonski said . `` It was a labor of love . He did not charge money for it , '' Ted Witonski died in the 1970s at the age of 65 , according to his son . Witonski produced a large body of art , and his work is exhibited by a number of prestigious institutions , according to his son . Witonski is not the only one that did not know about his mural being hidden ; most of the current congregation was surprised by the announcement of the unveiling , said parishioner Jennifer Maguire . Once the congregation found out the painting exists , people started peaking under the curtain to glimpse it , said Maguire . Maguire , who has been attending St. Peter 's for 16 years , only learned about the painting when she volunteered to help take a survey of the church 's artwork . After some research , Maguire learned the painter was a respected artist . The interim pastor , Stephen Harding , told CNN that when he found out about the hidden work , he immediately thought to unveil it . Harding said he hopes that being able to see the work will give people an opportunity to think about the history of the parish and the nation . Peter Witonski told CNN he is looking forward to seeing the painting again after so much time . `` I feel that my father will be watching , somehow , '' he said .
Ted Witonski painted a mural for St. Peter 's Chelsea in 1946 . It shows two servicemen kneeling before Jesus Christ . The church covered it in 1954 , deemed it too militaristic . It will be unveiled Sunday , the day before Veterans Day .