Greatest Generation Mural to be Unveiled on November 11

The World War II Greatest Generation Mural on South Mooney Blvd. in Visalia will be unveiled on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11.

The mural has been a landmark in Visalia since its dedication on Veterans Day 2006. Unfortunately, time and weather left the mural in bad shape. Many of the panels that the art is displayed on needed to be restored, repaired and remounted.

The Visalia Veterans Committee, comprised of veterans groups including American Legion Posts 18 and 785, AmVets Post 22, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1864, formed the Visalia Veterans Mural Restoration Foundation, Inc.

"Our fundraising campaign for the restoration has been slow and tedious," said Committee Chairman Leon Lucas. "To date, we have raised $47,000 of the $60,000 needed to restore the mural."

The committee's next fundraising event is a dinner on November 10 at the Visalia Veterans Memorial Building. Island Style Productions will cater the event.

The committee is also planning other projects.

"We will continue our fundraising efforts to to cover costs (of the Greatest Generation Mural), and to start the process of repairing the Vietnam Mural in the Courtyard of the Visalia Convention Center, and moving the currently hidden Korean War Mural to a more open and visible site for all to see," Lucas said.

Donations to help the efforts to honor local veterans, can be sent to: The Visalia Veterans Mural Foundation, P.O. Box 1291, Visalia, CA 93279.

For more information, call (559) 308-3029.