Artist: Chris DeShazo

Location: 317 E Main St, Carbondale, IL

Materials: Existing wall and paint

Installation date: 2023

From the artists: I use the foliage and wildlife of Southern Illinois, not only to highlight our beautiful landscape, but to consider the difficult journeys that lead many of us here. The pack of rabbits relies on each other and shows no fear of predators. This mural tells the story of the first Memorial Day. We are so blessed to live in an area with such a rich history. General John A. Logan, of Murphysboro, was famous for serving under General Grant in the Civil War. He was a good friend of Grant and known for being fierce in battle. He served the state of Illinois as a state Representative, a U.S. Representative, and a U.S. Senator and was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States as James G. Blaine's running mate in the election of 1884. As the 3rd Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, he is regarded as the most important figure in the movement to recognize Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) as an official holiday.

The center illustration is painted to represent him delivering his speech here at Woodlawn Cemetery on the first Memorial Day on April 29, 1866. The left framing portrait is of Col. Brush. He was the founder of Carbondale. He is buried here in Woodlawn, and his tombstone is depicted here. The wonderful gentleman on the left is Curtis, a delightful person whose picture I stumbled across while researching. He still plays taps honoring fellow veterans! He was my element of the present, portrayed in a modern style, he both honors all who served, from the fine line illustration of Civil War Union troops directly above home to the present. He is also “welcoming all to Carbondale”. The blue flowers, Forget-Me-Nots, commonly represent soldiers who lost their lives and are used compositionally to tie all of the elements together. The red poppies became a remembrance of fallen soldiers in Europe during WW1 in connection with the blood on the battlefields. It has since become a symbol to honor all those soldiers who have fallen in battle.