Event Raises Funds For New Veterans Mural

By Kendra Bobowick

Meriah Tani spun the raffle wheel, watching hundreds of tickets tumble inside. Soon selecting another winner, she handed the ticket to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 308 Commander James Rebman. For more than an hour on Saturday, September 29, he announced winners in a fundraising event hosted by the Newtown Country Club, culminating months of work by the Project Newtown Troops and Veterans committee, which is raising funds for a mural recognizing Newtown’s veterans. Local artist David Merrill is creating the mural. Ms Tani had also donated her time in assembling all raffle baskets.

Selectman Will Rodgers, a United States Marine Corps veteran, thanked the crowd of more than 150 guests out to support the mural project, saying, “Thank you for coming to honor our veterans.” Committee members including Mr Rebman and Northern Fairfield County Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America member and resident Laurie McCollum, Kaki and Fred Taylor, United States Navy member Dan Kearns Sr, Jay Gill, and others spoke with guests, and perused raffle and auction items, including lithographs by Mr Merrill.

Ladies VFW Auxiliary member Cynthia Todd, with lengths of raffle tickets draped over one arm, briefly spoke with Mr Merrill while admiring his lithograph scenes of Hawley Pond filled with ice skaters, and a view of Church Hill Road, approaching the flagpole.

Addressing the many guests, Mr Merrill said, “This has been a tremendous experience.” He has enjoyed his months of work on a mural that he said will include images and phrases representing the themes: honor, courage, and commitment. He said last week, “Those three things say so much.” The artwork, done in panels to soon adorn Newtown Municipal Center’s walls, will incorporate icons such as Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty, mixed with images of military subjects. “That’s what it’s all about,” he had said.

The finished design will also showcase the names of local veterans in the service since 1971. An earlier mural with names of residents in the service through 1971 is in the lobby of Edmond Town Hall. The committee continues to seek names and information on servicemen and women, including any inadvertently missing from the earlier mural; they have roughly 200 names so far.

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

Residents with questions or information on a veteran past or present who should be included in the new mural can contact Ms McCollum at 203-788-4079 or LaurieJMcCollum@yahoo.com.

Saturday’s event, combined with the month of September’s fundraising, collected roughly $10,000 toward the mural projects. “We are so grateful for how the event played out and to all those contributors, organizers, and supporters who attended,” said Mr Rebman.