Where the 50 stars would go, Simpson puts a photo or a small painting he's done. The one for Hurt had images of Clement Hill, Faith Christian Academy, Hurt Elementary School, the Hurt Volunteer Fire Department and a painting of town hall, where the plaque hangs. Many of the squares have military themes. Simpson has always been fascinated by military history. He especially likes planes and ships.
Trains are also a favorite.
Inspiration for the plaques comes from seeing a museum exhibit, talking to a friend or looking at an old photo. Simpson has made two or three dozen plaques. Each takes from 75 to 100 hours. He crafts them by first covering one side of the plate with masking tape and drawing or designing his images. Then, using a nail and hundreds of licks with a hammer, he punches out the design so that it shows on the front.