High Point school board accepts mural

SUSSEX — The High Point Board of Education voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to accept a mural honoring Veterans from Art Frisbie and Airworx, Frisbie’s sign and truck-lettering business.

The wall-sized patriotic mural features images of soldiers with a quote from St. Augustine: “The purpose of all wars is peace.”

Frisbie is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving his country on active duty for 8 years. He was commissioned five years ago by a High Point committee to create this piece of art.

“It truly does feel like a piece of me,” he said.

Frisbie dedicated more than 140 hours to this project. He said he hopes to see all who helped with the project commemorated on a plaque to be displayed with the mural.

Several veterans chose to speak about their own experiences serving their country and what the mural means to them. Jason Vaughan, a Marine and 2004 graduate of High Point, recalls being presented with a banner made by Frisbie upon his return home from a tour in Iraq.

“This mural is a huge ‘thank you’ token for everything I’ve done and for everything other veterans have done,” Vaughan said.

Paul Derin Jr. read a letter from Frank Toth, who he recalls working with his father, Board President Paul Derin, to get the mural back to the school. The letter highlighted accomplishments and losses of High Point graduates who served their country.

Frank Toth presented Boar President Derin with a few accolades to recognize his efforts for his “steadfast courage against overwhelming odds.” Toth presented Derin with a framed piece of barbed wire from where he spent two tours in Korea, as well as a replica of a Huey helicopter, representing Toth’s time in Medevac.

“Your selfless devotion has brought a lot of honor to the community and made a lot of people happy,” Toth told Derin before the presentation.

The Board agrees that the mural means a lot to the community and is not “just a piece of art.”