From offering a gathering place to raising funds through the Poppy Fund, the Dunnville Legion, Branch 142 is a beacon for veterans. Now that beacon is all the brighter thanks to the efforts of artist Sean O’Neill.
It was an uncharacteristically sunny day on Saturday, October 19, 2024 as two volunteers stood atop the roof of the Dunnville Legion holding a giant green tarp over O’Neill’s new mural while Legion President Debbie Vander Heide gave a speech to the crowd below.
That crowd was eager to see O’Neill’s work, completed between July and August, now adorning the outer wall on the back of the building facing Maple Street.
Vander Heide heaped praise on the veterans honoured through the mural. She also praised the continued actions of all Legion staff, who work tirelessly to preserve the local military history held within the branch’s walls while also offering vital services to veterans in need in the community.
“The walls are adorned with the faces of both young and old, brave men and women who fought to secure the freedom of their land,” said Vander Heide. “They endured countless battles, faced the loss of friends and family, and made the significant sacrifices, including prolonged separations from spouse, children, and other loved ones. While their sacrifices may sometimes go unnoticed, we aim to pay tribute to their courage and resilience.”
She thanked O’Neill for the hard work and talent that went into creating the mural.
“It really brings those moments to life and helps us to remember those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Every time we look at it know that you, and they, are deeply appreciated and honoured,” she said, recounting the emotional reactions she had while watching O’Neill work throughout the summer. “I cried every day, because it really hits home.”
Following the speech, the curtain dropped, revealing a colourful, bright series of painted images showcasing both the glory of veterans and tragedy of war.
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley also spoke at the event, praising O’Neill’s “excellent” job, adding, “It brings tears to my eyes to see this mural here in Haldimand County.”
She continued, “We recognize and will always remember our veterans, not only for WWI, not only WWII, but all the wars. They continue to fight for our freedoms. We need to keep the children aware of what our soldiers are fighting for, so we don’t lose sight of our freedoms. I appreciate all your hard work, your dedication, all your volunteer hours that you spend away from your families to keep this Legion going, to keep history at the forefront.”
O’Neill then addressed the crowd, saying, “We would not be here today if it wasn’t for that ugly machine we call war, where great injustices are unleashed upon good people by the devilish evils of corrupt minds.”
He also praised the veterans of the Royal Canadian Legion and “the countless others around the world who fight with their lives for that final conquest – peace itself.”
He said his main objective in painting the mural was to bring “awe and emotion” to those who view it.
The Press spoke further with O’Neill about his work. O’Neill, who hails from the Niagara region, has done many commissioned projects over the last three decades. Many patrons of Niagara Falls’ Clifton Hill tourist area have likely seen O’Neill’s work in a haunted house, wax museum, or other attraction.
He said the Dunnville mural came from his interest in visiting legions. One night, while enjoying a beer at Branch 142, O’Neill encountered Legion Vice President Jamie Baatness, who inquired about O’Neill’s car decal advertising his artist services.
“We hit it off, he showed me the back wall, asked if I had any ideas. And soon as I saw the vents coming out of the wall from a previous kitchen behind that wall, I thought I could turn those into some afterburners for a jet,” explained O’Neill.
He continued, “Then there was a ledge just below, used to be a window there – I thought I could turn those into sandbags for sharpshooters, and from there I went off. I said, ‘I can put a Lancaster up top, I can do crazy things with this wall’. So he asked me to draw something up for them. I did, and a year later here I am.”
He said volunteers from the branch helped keep the cost of the project down by doing the prep work themselves, including removing the old paint from the wall and doing a clear coat.
“The rest was up to me. I just went and executed my piece,” he said.
The youngest of eight children, O’Neill said his love of arts can be traced back to his childhood.
“Colouring books and crayons were the cheapest way to keep us entertained back in the late 60s, early 70s,” he reminisced.
On his inspiration for the smaller vignettes within the mural, he explained, “I was looking for anything that had impact – like the soldiers in the mist, and the explosion in the bottom corners there. The Lancaster was a given, so was the plane formation. After I thought I was done, they wanted to put the Canadian flag under the jet formation.”
O’Neill said the feedback he’s received has been wonderful so far.
“Just beautiful, inspirational comments, like ‘thank you for what you did, it’s beautiful’. Some people say it brought them to tears; they can stand and look at it and see something different every time,” O’Neill recalled.
He is proud to now be part of the Dunnville Legion’s lasting legacy: “It strikes a chord with me and hits me in the heart.”
