Raffle Prizes, Auction, Evening Out To Benefit Veterans

By Kendra Bobowick

With honor, courage, and commitment in mind, artist David Merrill is painting those themes into his newest veterans mural honoring servicemen and women in Newtown.

“Those three things say so much,” he said Monday during a brief meeting with Project Newtown Troops and Veterans committee members. A fundraiser including raffle, door prizes, an auction, live entertainment, food and refreshments to support the mural project will be held Saturday, September 29, from 6 to 8:30 pm, at Newtown Country Club.

Among prizes awaiting guests are Mr Merrill’s signed lithographs of winter scenes at Hawley Pond, and another with a view looking up Church Hill Road. Local businesses and restaurants have also donated items up for raffle Saturday. Being auctioned is Mr Merrill’s reproduction of an original acrylic — a wintry view of Main Street looking toward the flag pole from the vicinity of the General Store, house lights aglow and streetlights brightening a snow-covered street. Raffle items and door prizes also include gift cards to various stores and restaurants, and for goods or services, valued between $25 and $600.

Mr Merrill noted that the three themes of honor, courage, and commitment are “part of the history of our country.” Icons such as Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty will be in the mural, mixed with images of military subjects. “That’s what it’s all about,” he said. The mural will also include the phrase: “To those who served the nation, we shall forever be grateful and you will never be forgotten.”

The finished design, which will showcase the names of local veterans in the service since 1971, will soon hang at Newtown Municipal Center. An earlier mural with names of residents in the service through 1971 is in the lobby of Edmond Town Hall. While the committee still seeks names and information on servicemen and women, including any inadvertently missing from the earlier mural, they have roughly 200 names so far. Mr Merrill started his work on May 1 and feels confident he will finish by the end of this year. An unveiling is planned for Veterans Day weekend.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 308 Commander James Rebman was among committee members this week to meet with Mr Merrill and make last-minute plans for Saturday night’s event. With him were committee members Fred and Kaki Taylor, Jay Gill, and Laurie McCollum of Northern Fairfield County Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America.

The committee has a 501(c)(3) set up through Newtown Savings Bank. Donations can go directly to the bank.

Residents who wish to attend the Saturday night event, or with information on a veteran past or present who should be included in the new mural, should contact Ms McCollum at 203-788-4079 or LaurieJMcCollum@yahoo.com.