Marine Corps mural was team effort

By Joseph Garcia, Rocky Mountain News
July 5, 2006

Every Friday morning, a group of U.S. Marine Corps veterans sit over breakfast at the Cindy Lynn Cafe and shoot the breeze - their discussions often punctuated with the Corps' motto.

Semper fi.

Always faithful.

It was during one of those breakfasts in the winter of 2005 that their idea came along for Ray Espinoza, 70, a Marine during the Korean War era and prominent Denver artist, to paint a memorial honoring those Marines who served, fought and died in U.S. military history.

"Once a Marine, always a Marine," Espinoza said as his reason for making the memorial. "You always work for the Corps."

The mural was presented in an informal dedication on Friday. All of those involved in its conception and production were in attendance, including Jerry Hermosillo and Marine veterans Rich Angell, Mike Little and Frank N. Bales.

It was painted on the east wall of the E.G. Trading Post at 1634 E. 47th Ave., across the street from the cafe near Brighton Boulevard and Interstate 70. It's owned by Korean War veteran Elijah Gaylor.

According to Bales, it's the only mural memorial to the Marine Corps in the Western states as far as they know.

Although Espinoza says he is primarily an easel painter, he has made several murals in Denver, including one for the Chicano movement called Lettuce March, and was described as being "a sort of seasoned Renaissance man of the Hispanic community" by former Rocky Mountain News art critic Carol Dickinson.

"Ray is a foremost Western American artist," said Bales, 76, about Espinoza. "He's the reason we've done this.

"Art is the link to preserving history."

The primarily green, gold and crimson memorial displays the six symbols for each of the Corps divisions all positioned around the eagle, globe and anchor insignia of the U.S. Marines.

It also gives the dates for the Vietnam War, the Korean War (depicted as "The Korean Victory"), and World War II.

"We will determine how to expand on this for Marines currently serving in the Middle East," Bales said.

At the end of the dedication, the breakfast club of veterans gathered around the memorial made for them and by them.

They stood at attention for a group photo, their feelings of faithfulness to the Corps still on display.

Ellie