Venice
Members of the community celebrated the unveiling of the newly restored POW/MIA Mural
in Venice on Monday, May 29.
Venice Chamber President George Francisco, Venice Chamber in Action Committee Chair Kelly Layne, SPARC founder Judy Baca, and Councilmember Mike Bonin all gave moving speeches and thanked the community for their support. The mural, which honors prisoners of war and those missing in action from the Vietnam War, was vandalized during Memorial Day weekend last year.
The original mural was created by artist Peter Stewart with the support of the National Veterans Foundation. The Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) was responsible for overseeing the restoration with mural artists and a crew of volunteers.
The Venice Chamber of Commerce led the fundraising campaign that funded the restoration by SPARC, receiving grants from SoCal Gas, Snap Inc., Venice Neighborhood Council, and Councilmember Mike Bonin, as well as donations from numerous community contributors. The mural restoration planning team was awarded a certificate by the City of Los Angeles to thank them for their efforts in coordinating the restoration project.
In closing, Chamber President George Francisco reminded the crowd that an additional $5,000 was still needed for the digital overlay which will provide a means for the mural to be moved and preserved. Then and there, someone from the crowd offered to donate and, moved by the emotion of the day, others joined in and $500 was donated by community members. Councilmember Mike Bonin pledge to donate $1,000 from the council office.
To assist with the final $3,500 needed, please visit the GoFundMe page (gofundme.com/POWMIAmural) and the Venice Chamber site (venicechamber.net/powmiamural) and help us spread the word.
- Submitted by Samantha Alegre, Marketing Communications Venice Chamber of Commerce
