21 Oct Mural Memorializes Hometown Heroes

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) – The official unveiling of mosaic artist Robin Moyher’s mural Hometown Heroes took place on May 13 at B&J Body Shop, Kilgore Road at Folsom Boulevard.  From conception to completion the process took two years, and more than 8 months of that was the full-time physical creation of the mosaic mural.  “The images of the first responders are done in silhouette to represent that we often see them just for the service they offer: faceless, unmemorable, not as individuals, real people,” Moyher said.  “The backdrop of the tattered/fatigued flag reminds us that we remain one country, strained and stretched, but still united, overcoming all these challenges.”

At the beginning of the planning process, Moyher approached B&J owners Mike Passof and Dan Charlebois, and they agreed to house the mural, help install it and take care of it. “There was kind of a neat little community effort there as well,” Passof said. 

Jimmy Paniagua, with whom B&J had worked before, helped with the three-day installation and would not accept any money or reciprocation. “I want to be part of the cause of supporting the first responders and putting this mural up,” Paniagua told Passof.

Passof and Charlebois rented a lift from River City Rentals.  “I mentioned to them the effort and the cause that we’re doing it for,” Passof said, “for saluting the first responders, and they cut my invoice in half once they heard that.  It was a real neat, warm, fuzzy, community feeling about the whole thing.”