'Day of Remembrance' honors many in Newcomerstown
Times-Reporter
Ray Booth, Correspondent
NEWCOMERSTOWN — With a ceremony emphasizing remembrance and recognition, area residents marked the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 last weekend, a date when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, with a fourth plane brought down on its way to crash into the White House.
ARTSNCT, Arts Center of Newcomerstown, coordinated “A Day of Remembrance and Recognition,” which not only paid tribute to those lost by the events of 9/11, but remembering friends, loved ones, and family members who have been lost to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The event will also honor first responders in the Newcomerstown community. There was also a car show, the unveiling of a COVID-19 mural, along with a food truck from Backwoods Smokehouse BBQ and Catering, and more. All proceeds from the event will benefit the children’s programs at ARTSNCT.
Mayor Pat Cadle issued a proclamation remembering the events of 9/11 and also recognizing those local first responders. Representatives of the Newcomerstown Police Department, Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad and Tri-County Ambulance joined the mayor on stage on College Street. Also taking part was Pastor Jim Reed, who gave the benediction. The ceremony concluded with the playing of “Taps” and a 21-gun salute by the Honor Guard of Newcomerstown American Legion, Thomas C. Montgomery Post 431.
The Tuscarawas County Traveling COVID Mural, “The Art of Healing, A Traveling Memorial Mural for COVID Impact,” was also unveiled inside ARTSNCT, with Carole Hunt, one of the artists who created the memorial, on hand. Lynn Fraelich, another artist involved with the project, was unable to be present. The mural will be on display at ARTNCT through Oct. 6.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Ohio, New Towne Mall, Tracie Kenney, Tuscarawas Arts Partnership and the Tuscarawas County Health Department joined together to commission the mural to be “dedicated to the family members and friends in Tuscarawas County who lost their lives to COVID-19, and give immeasurable credit to the frontline workers who took care of our community.”
In an earlier press release, Hunt said, “I knew from the moment I said yes to this project that I was facing a challenge. How to include multiple perspectives and stay neutral? How to provoke thought without dividing further? How to honor what we experienced, both individually and collectively as first responders? It has been cathartic for me looking back without my personal perspective being tainted by fear, anger, and division while sorting through it all. The project continues to evolve the more I consider the perspectives of others. I hope we will each take the time and space to do that.”
Following a month on display in Newcomerstown, the mural will then go to the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas from Wednesday, Oct. 6 to Friday, Nov. 5; the Mineral City Nicole Donant Library from Friday, Nov. 5, to Friday, Dec. 3; the County Commissioners building from Friday, Dec. 3, to Tuesday, Jan. 4; and then to its final placement at the Tuscarawas County Health Department on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Officials said, “We want to thank our donors for contributing to the project: Brent and Donna Pepper, Harry and Carole Kenney Family Trust, Kimble Foundation, Kings Church, Newcomerstown American Legion, Newcomerstown VFW, Newcomerstown Vietnam Veterans, R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, The Masons, Toland-Herzig, Tuscarawas County Commissioners and the Twin City Medical Group. We also want to thank Tracie Kenney and those that have donated through her Facebook fundraiser.”
ARTSNCT — Arts Center of Newcomerstown, is a veteran-led 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing all forms of visual and performing arts to Newcomerstown and the surrounding tri-county area. The center is 100% volunteer operated and managed, supported by private donations.
ARTSNCT is located at 304 S. College St., Newcomerstown. For more information, call 740- 575-5710 or go to www.artsnct.org.
