BURLINGTON, Vermont (AP) - Thanks to the efforts of Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas and a horde of Norman Rockwell’s former models, the site where the illustrator conceived many of his iconic Saturday Evening Post covers was honored with a historical marker.

The historic marker is at the Arlington home where Rockwell lived and worked from 1943 to 1953. The marker highlights several of Rockwell’s paintings created in the nearby studio, including “Four Freedoms,” an advertisement for war bonds.

Douglas says Rockwell’s paintings call to mind an era “more satisfying in many ways” than today. The governor says it’s important for Vermont’s “creative economy” to have artists living in the state.

The marker was unveiled at the fifth annual reunion of local Rockwell models, who helped push for the memorial at the site.