By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
RUSSELL — A patriotic mural sponsored by the Russell Original Art Review (ROAR) was completed last week on the exterior of the Russell VFW, Post 6240.
The mural depicts armed forces personnel from a buffalo soldier to the present.
ROAR commissioned the mural as part of its 50th anniversary celebration this fall. The mural will be dedicated Oct. 13 as a part of that celebration.
Micky Zorn, past post commander, said the VFW has received positive response from the public about the mural.
“It is amazing, and I tell you it really has hit home with the veterans, especially for our older veterans. It really has choked them up,” she said. “You know the VFW has been struggling across the board nationally trying to get members. We hope that maybe it might serve as a little spark because we are the ones who are up there at Congress constantly fighting for benefits for the veterans.”
The mural is 17 feet by 60 feet and painted by Dennis Schiel of Hays, who also painted murals on the exterior of the Fox Pavilion in Hays and the Hays VFW. Schiel began painting the mural in April.
The mural is painted in earth tones similar to the FOX mural with the exception of the American flag, bald eagle, poppies, VFW logo and a Purple Heart. It depicts a timeline of U.S. military history as well as U.S. military symbols. A kiosk will eventually be added to the mural to explain the images in the mural, including the Buddy Poppies, buffalo solider, code talker and military nurse.
He worked with ROAR and VFW to pick the subject matter for the mural and then based the images on historical photographs. He said he appreciated being able to create a tribute to those who served.
“It was fun to do,” he said. “I appreciate the town’s arts commission wanting to do the mural.”
Patty Driscoll, Russell Original Art Review organizer, said she was very impressed with the final artwork.
“We have had so many positive comments about it,” she said. “People are just overwhelmed by it, the size. I guess when they saw a picture of it, they just didn’t realize how large it would be — 20 feet by 60 feet. It was quite surprising for a lot of people. Everybody has been so supportive here in Russell of the mural. They have donated generously, so we are very pleased with the turnout and the response we have gotten from it.”
The mural was funded through a grant and donations. Each of the donors names or their honorariums are listed with the mural. Driscoll said all the funds for the creation of the mural have been raised, but ROAR is still taking donations for the upkeep of the mural. It will need to be resealed every several years.