Reporter staff

Behind the talent of student artists and supporters, American Legion Post 78 of Auburn is putting art on display in honor of veterans.

The Auburn School District, City of Auburn and Post 78 are combing efforts to create a series of murals behind Auburn Memorial Stadium, facing Veterans Memorial Park.

The proposed art project includes paintings of veterans and iconic war images from World War I to present day. Plans are to erect 22 eight-by-eight-foot murals along the 175-foot-long wall on the wall behind the stadium. Murals depicting the five armed services also will be placed on stadium pillars.

Post 78 chose Tacoma artist Rachael Dotson to design the mural. Dotson said the idea is to “portray the human aspect of war,” in a series of panels depicting scenes from World War I to present-day conflicts.

The mural is scheduled to be erected in late June and officially dedicated during Auburn’s Veterans Day Observance on Nov. 9.

The project got a boost last weekend when culinary students at Mountainview High School donated $3,400 to help cover costs and see its completion.

A student crew from Auburn’s high schools is working inside the old Public Health building on Auburn Avenue to complete the project.

Post leaders are seeking donations to cover the cost of materials and construction. The public can send donations to: American Legion Post 78, attention: veterans mural, at P.O. Box 668, Auburn WA 98071.

=====

PHOTO BELOW: Sierra Wallace, a sophomore at Auburn Mountainview, paints a nurse for the mural honoring veterans. Mark Klaas, Reporter