Student art mural “Liberty” to be unveiled in Temecula July 13th

TEMECULA, Calif., ─ The City of Temecula, Community Services Department, Temecula Valley Unified School District, and the Temecula Valley Museum announce a new Student Art Mural in Sam Hicks Monument Park, at 28300 Mercedes Street.

Created by retired Temecula Valley Unified School District History and Art Teacher Bonnie Martland, and two of her grandchildren, Anneke and Jack Martland, ages six and nine, this temporary public art piece celebrates the 245th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and will be officially unveiled by City of Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards on July 13th at 3 p.m.

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As an Army Veteran and a history major whose first date with her husband of 53 years was on July 4th, it is not surprising that Bonnie’s favorite holiday is Independence Day. When asked to design the July mural, she knew immediately what her inspiration would be.

The meaning of some of the words on the mural were new to her grandchildren. So, a little lesson developed about the word “Liberty” and why it is important that we celebrate the Fourth of July.

Bonnie hopes that when the mural is viewed, the design will engender a feeling of patriotism and thankfulness, and that other families might also contemplate the word “Liberty” and be grateful for the many freedoms we enjoy.

Tony Moramarco, the program facilitator of the Student Art Mural, is a former art student of Mrs. Martland and now is also Bonnie’s grandchildren’s art teacher. The art lessons have come full circle and creativity is being paid forward through to the next generation!

“The City of Temecula is proud to celebrate the Declaration of Independence and our Nation’s birth with a beautiful mural created by two generations – Temecula art teachers and their students,” Mayor Edwards said of the mural and upcoming unveiling. The focus on Liberty highlights our gratitude to the Founding Fathers for their wisdom and foresight in providing a document that guides us through typical times and carries us through difficult times.”

“The past 18 months have clearly demonstrated the importance of the Declaration of Independence as the foundation for our freedom, and the guiding document for today and for future generations,” she continued.

The mural is currently on display in Sam Hicks Monument Park, and will be officially unveiled by Mayor Edwards on July 13th at 3pm. The public is welcome to attend the unveiling.

The museum also celebrates Independence Day through facts and free crafts in the Temecula Valley Woman’s Club Art and Education Room and all are welcome! The Student Art Mural Project is organized by Temecula Valley Museum. Local art students are invited to paint murals on canvas that will be displayed in Sam Hicks Monument Park monthly. For more information, please call (951) 694-6450.



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Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.