Mural is tribute to flag, soldiers

   Donna Zimmerman of Monticello said she has always loved art.

   Visitors to the Veterans Hall, Council Chambers or anywhere else in the Monticello Renaissance Center now can enjoy a prominent piece of her work.

   Zimmerman has painted a large mural, depicting a giant American Flag blowing in the wind. To the right is a soldier reading a letter of thanks.

   The mural is located at the end of the hallway just past the restrooms, at the bottom of the staircase that leads up to the Monticello Public Library.  

   She said she came up with the idea with the help of veteran Dennis Gray.

   “He got to talking, about always making this (center) better, always improving, and together we came up with this idea of painting back here, Zimmerman said.

   Monticello City Administrator Russ Farnum said it took almost no time for the city council to approve the mural.

   “It’s in a city building, so the council needed to approve the alteration,” Farnum said. “She proposed it to the council. The council just nodded, and said yes.

   “I wanted to make sure we got their consent to do it, and give Donna a little credit in public, for doing this fabulous tribute to our soldiers.”

   Zimmerman said she created several sketches before deciding on the one she painted on the walls.

   “I ended up liking this one the best,” she said. “I had other ideas of ways to tie in the veterans with the library, and I ended up studying the USO, where they help soldiers connect with their families.

   “I was going to go that route more, and then I decided, ‘No, just keep it simple and straight-forward.’ ”

   It took her about a month to paint the mural, and she applied the finishing touches May 20.

   “It was Dennis Gray that had the idea to decorate the lobby,” Zimmerman shared. “And here we are.

   “I’m just happy that it can be in the paper, and let people know.”