Veterans Mural For Municipal Center Is Taking Shape

By Kendra Bobowick

With her head tilted to the side, Laurie McCollum admired the freshly painted panel — just a corner of what will be included in a 12- by 12-foot mural — propped against a wall last Monday at Newtown’s VFW Post.

“It’s a beginning,” she said.

Ms McCollum is a member of the Northern Fairfield County chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America. She and others have formed Project Newtown Troops and Veterans, a committee that is coordinating and fundraising for a new project honoring Newtown’s servicemen and women.

United States military emblems sat below a white area where veterans’ names will be listed in columns on a new mural to adorn the central corridor of Newtown Municipal Center. Any residents who have served or are serving in the US military are eligible to have their names included in the new mural, including Ms McCollum’s son Rylan, a Marine Corps sergeant. Picking up where Newtown’s list of veterans leaves off at the year 1971 in murals at Edmond Town Hall, Ms McCollum — with help from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308 members, Project Newtown Troops and Veterans members, and the careful hand of artist David Merrill — intends to create the new veterans mural. The new list will begin at 1971 and continue through the present, also including any names that may not have made it into the first mural.

Gathered at the VFW on Monday, July 30, were Project Newtown Troops and Veterans committee members, including Marine Corps veteran Phil Lombardo.

Looking at a portion of the mural that Mr Merrill revealed that day, Mr Lombardo said, “I love this.”

Active in the Marine Corps from 2006 to 2010 and part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009, Mr Lombardo’s name will be on the mural. A corporal when he left the corps, Mr Lombardo appreciates the artwork.

“A lot of guys come home, and who knows if they feel appreciated,” he said. Indicating the mural, he said, “They will know that what they did will not be forgotten.”

Along with the emblems and an upper corner filled with soldiers’ faces, and men in action around military vehicles, was a phrase that began, “To those who serve our nation we shall forever …” The phrase will continue on the remainder of the mural, which was not with Mr Merrill Monday.

Stepping up to see the artwork was former VFW commander Dan Kearns. Did he know the full phrase that would appear on the finished work? “I can’t tell you everything,” he joked. But minutes later as Mr Merrill talked about the painting, he offered the rest of the phrase: “To those who serve our nation we shall forever be grateful and you will never be forgotten.” Behind his painting is “a lot of research, things had to be exact,” Mr Merrill said, pointing to the detail in military vehicles, for example. The finished work will incorporate the flagpole, and a red, white, and blue border around the 12- by 12-foot design, which could grow, depending on the names they receive.

Mr Merrill started his work on May 1 and feels confident he will finish by the end of this year. An unveiling will take place on Veterans Day weekend.

First Selectman Pat Llodra said recently that she was excited by the project when she first learned about it months ago.

“I am confident that this creation will serve as an appropriate tribute to our veterans and I look forward to dedicating space in our government building to their honor,” said Ms Llodra.

VFW Post 308 Commander James Rebman, also part of the mural committee, also recently said that the post is backing the project.

“I think it will be one of the nicest things in the town hall,” Mr Rebman said of Mr Merrill’s new work. “His mural for the military will be a showpiece and a tribute to Newtown.”

Finding The Funding

Ms McCollum initially received private donations from Robert Qubick and James Smith, both of Sandy Hook, to get the project started. She is now planning a fundraiser for Saturday, September 29, to take place at Newtown Country Club from 6 to 8:30 pm.

As part of the night’s offerings, Mr Merrill will be signing three lithographs that will be raffled. The Project Newtown Troops and Veterans committee will be putting together baskets for a raffle that night, with one of the prizes being a pasta night from Lorenzo’s Restaurant. The Cork-N-Barrel wine and spirits shop in Plaza South on Main Street South will also provide the wine for those dinner baskets.

The committee members will be soliciting additional raffle prizes in coming weeks. Raffle tickets sales will soon be announced, Ms McCollum said.

As for the mural project, committee member and Blue Star mother Kaki Taylor, mother of Air Force Second Lieutenant-in-training Drew Taylor, said her group needs funding. The committee has a 501(c)(3) set up through Newtown Savings Bank. Donations can go directly to the bank.

More importantly, the group also needs the names of any veterans who should be included in the new mural. Residents with information on a veteran past or present should contact Ms McCollum at 203-788-4079 or LaurieM30@sbcglobal.net.