Celebrating freedom
<p>Scott LoBaido, a Staten Island, NY artist, works on an 8-foot by 40-foot mural of the American flag Tuesday at the American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls.</p>
POST FALLS - Scott LoBaido rolled into Post Falls on a 50-state mission to paint a colorful thank you to veterans.
The New York artist will leave behind a flag mural at American Legion Post 143 for passersby along Poleline Avenue to enjoy.
"I love my freedoms," LoBaido said on Tuesday while taking a break from working on the 8-feet by 40-feet mural alongside a storage container at the Legion.
"Freedom wasn't a part of my birth certificate, so I want to thank the men and women who are quiet and humble and paid for our freedom."
The public is invited to watch LoBaido in action today and to a dedication ceremony for the mural at the Legion tonight at 5:15. There will be honor guards, LoBaido will be introduced and veterans groups will be present.
Kerri Thoreson, a Post Falls City Council member who helped orchestrate the project, will read a letter from Gov. Butch Otter. Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson will also speak. Cake and ice cream will be served inside the Legion after the ceremony.
LoBaido started painting the mural on Tuesday morning and will finish today. He's painting it at no cost to the Legion. The Home Depot, Behr, CitiQuiet Windows and Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation are sponsoring his journey, which includes painting a flag mural at either a Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars post in every state from Feb. 20 to Sept. 25. Idaho is his 17th state.
Dennis Wheeler, who was recently selected as commander of Post 143, asked LoBaido why he was on such a mission.
"You guys are quiet heroes," LoBaido said. "I'm spending six months of my life to pay it forward and say thanks to you."
LoBaido, 50, said he's not making any profit on the murals and sponsors are covering his costs. Nine different colors are being used on the mural.
"It will look like you can walk behind the flag when I'm finished," he said.
Wheeler said the Legion plans to pour a concrete slab in front of the mural and add seating, lighting and a surveillance camera.
"This will be special for Post Falls and all veterans," Wheeler said. "It's a huge tribute to veterans in America."
Thoreson called the mural a "visible celebration of America."
LoBaido said Thoreson contacted him about considering the Steven H. Nipp American Post 143 for his Idaho project before he contacted the post. LoBaido is not a veteran, but he has multiple relatives who have served the country.
"I want kids to be intrigued by this when they pass by so that they ask their parents about it," he said. "The parents can then tell them about the heroes who have given them the freedoms to do things that they enjoy."