The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Veterans paint, unveil mural in ceremony
Veterans who painted a new mural pulled a tarp revealing the creation during an unveiling ceremony.
Veterans who painted a new mural pulled a tarp revealing the creation during an unveiling ceremony at noon Sept. 15 at Lorain Art Council.
The mural, located behind the building at 737 Broadway Ave., pays homage to the community and its servicemen with the American flag, Constitution and Lorain’s bridge, buildings and industry.
“I suggested that I wanted to do a program for the veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and things like that,” said Executive Director Antonio Barrios of Lorain Arts Council. “With post-traumatic stress, it’s important for them that they’re able to express their feelings.”
The council received a $14,560 grant from the
Community Foundation to pay interested veterans living at the Valor Home, 221 W 21st St., who wanted to
work on the mural project.
Barrios said countless other murals have been painted both inside and outside
the buildings of Broadway Avenue and downtown Lorain. He hopes the council can acquire more funding for further projects to support local veterans who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.
“The most important thing I think for veterans to feel is that they’re needed, to feel that they’re useful again,” said Barrios, also a combat veteran. “All the other things are wonderful but I think this is one of the most important things to get back into society is to feel that he’s needed and that he can do something and be a part of it. This, in a small way, is a beginning to that.”
Veterans Terry Kreitzburg, 65, Ray Jate, 62, and Marion Eakle, 50, and lead artist Ashley Bennett were brought onto the stage before the unveiling.
“It’s been an honor working with these men in service,” Bennett said. “They were phenomenal students and took basic concepts that I taught them from drawing people to drawing scenery and just made it their own.”
“A lot more going on here than just art,” said Kreitzburg. “It’s a whole new way of life, just being around good people.”
Desert Storm veteran Eakle said his involvement with the mural brought light to the sacrifices made by older veterans.
“It’s been very eye-opening to me,” he said after speaking to Jerry Cruz, a 71 year-old Vietnam veteran in attendance. “I consider myself a younger vet and just being around these guys ... I’m proud to be sitting right here next to a Vietnam vet [Cruz], the guys that put in the work.”
Lorain mayor Chase Ritenauer was planning to attend the event, but was unable to due to a family emergency. A proclamation was read from the mayor’s office in his absence.