By Troy Yunk

SUBMITTED PHOTO Belvidere Republican
Students diligently repaint the VFW mural to its original clear, bright colors.

BNHS Art Dept. Head

The initial mural was completed on Veterans Day of 2004 by Belvidere High School students. The mural was designed by art teacher Missy Minardi. The VFW post commander Gordy Hammond approached Minardi after a 9-11 slide presentation of military art in the Belvidere Performing Arts Center. The VFW had boarded up a window and wanted a military themed mural painted on it.

Minardi was thrilled to do it: the post was her grandfather’s post, the location of her parents’ wedding reception, and Minardi has three generations of military service in her family: grandfather, father, and brother. The design reflects all time periods, air/sea/land equipment, and all branches of service. The original mural was completed/dedicated on Veterans Day 2004 at the conclusion of the Belvidere Veterans Day parade. The art department – Missy Minardi/Troy Yunk and students painted the mural on site.

The summer of 2018 Minardi noticed the mural had taken a toll from fading. She contacted the new post commander, Greg Kelm to see if he would be open to having Boylan High School Art Department working with Belvidere North High School Art Department to retouch the mural.

Minardi worked with Kelm in 2004 and 2008 on a second mural that still exists at the post. That mural was completed in 2008 and dedicated on Memorial Day at the conclusion of the Belvidere Memorial Day parade.

Minardi contacted Troy Yunk to see if he would be interested in collaborating to complete the project. Missy Minardi, Claire Strominger, and Troy Yunk (Art Department Head at Belvidere North High School) worked together with students from both schools. Students from Boylan High School were given service hours.

They did the painting on Saturday Oct. 20 and Sunday Oct. 21, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The students worked together looking at original photos from 2004 and photo references to bring the mural back to life. All three teachers worked together…

For complete article, pick up the Nov. 8 Belvidere Republican.

 
 
 
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