A new mural in downtown DeKalb salutes military veterans while honoring the sacrifice of service members who gave their lives for our country.
A dedication ceremony for the DeKalb Veterans Memorial Mural, which is a re-creation of the painting “What These Boots Have Seen” by Mary Gallagher Stout, was held Aug. 22. The artwork is located on the north wall of the Plaza DeKalb building overlooking Van Buer Plaza.
“As a US Army veteran, I am proud that downtown DeKalb will be the home of such a powerful tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who have served our country,” said Mayor Cohen Barnes. “This work will instill a sense of patriotism in visitors to the downtown while serving as a reminder of the gratitude we owe those who have fought to protect our freedom.”
The mural includes images of empty military boots as a tribute to fallen soldiers, dog tags representing the personal sacrifice of the individual service member and the American flag to underscore the national gratitude for the soldier. Gallagher Stout said her painting was inspired by the boots her husband wore during his tour in Afghanistan.
“As the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and the wife of a veteran, I understand the profound psychological and physical impacts on soldiers and their families. Using green to symbolize the youth and inexperience of many soldiers, I aimed to honor their sacrifices while shedding light on the silent suffering due to PTSD and cultural stigmas,” said Gallagher Stout. “I am deeply honored that this painting resonates with audiences and veterans alike, and I am moved by the City of DeKalb's decision to reproduce it for the veterans mural.”
Gallagher Stout’s painting was recommended for the mural by the City’s Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission.
“The veterans mural is a great addition to the City’s public art lineup,” said CCEC chair Brad Hoey. “The CCEC wishes to thank Michael Embrey and former DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith for bringing forward this project, which exemplifies the City’s status as the nation’s top veteran-friendly community.”
The mural is the most recent public tribute in DeKalb’s long tradition of honoring veterans. These tributes include the more than century-old Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Clock and the DeKalb Veterans Memorial, which was constructed with community donations at the DeKalb Elks Lodge.
These projects helped DeKalb earn the recognition as the top veteran-friendly community from the 40&8 veterans organization. Last year, the group named DeKalb as City of the Year in Illinois and then national City of the Year in recognition of the community’s efforts to honor veterans and their families.
The City extends its gratitude to Pappas Development for providing a prominent location for the artwork on the Plaza DeKalb building and the NIU Division of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications for digital photography services used in the creation of the mural.
The veterans mural was funded by a T-Mobile Hometown Grant awarded to the City for public art and is part of DeKalb’s public arts program. The program, overseen by the CCEC, has led the creation of the Belonging mural on City Hall, the Huskie Pride mural in the Annie Glidden Road underpass, utility box artwork downtown and Paint-A-Plug fire hydrants throughout the community.
Mayor Cohen Barnes, fellow DeKalb veterans and community members cut the ribbon on the DeKalb Veterans Memorial Mural. The ribbon cutting was organized by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.