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As America celebrates our 250th Anniversary this week, we’ve seen incredible patriotism on display in communities around the country. That same spirit was felt 50 years ago when we celebrated our bicentennial anniversary here in my hometown of Corona, and across the nation in 1976.
Corona High School student, Terri Smith, came up with the idea of painting a large mural on the Prado Dam spillway in Corona, and holding a high school contest to create a design for the mural. With the assistance of long-time Corona High activities director, Dave DiPaolo, Terri’s idea became a reality. At the end of the competition, a patriotic design drawn by students Ron Kammeyer and Perry Schaefer was selected. Terri then organized a group of roughly 30 student volunteers to paint the mural - which stretched 664 feet wide and 120 feet tall - using paint and supplies donated from local businesses. It was completed a few weeks before July 4, 1976.
For decades, residents in the surrounding region took tremendous pride in the mural and its tribute to our great nation. As time passed, the mural suffered from neglect, weathering, and graffiti. Several unsuccessful attempts to restore the mural to its original glory were stymied. It was determined the original mural contained lead-based paint, which would require a complicated and expensive process to remove.
In 2022, after many twists and turns, the effort to restore the mural finally received a green light when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and operates the Prado Dam, granted the Bicentennial Freedom Mural Conservancy permission to repaint it. Thanks to the efforts of Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, the Conservancy in partnership with the Riverside County Flood Control District obtained the permits and other necessary requirements. The Conservancy also raised the money and obtained other donated resources to make the restoration possible.
Before the mural could be repainted, the lead-based paint from the old mural had to be removed by the Corps of Engineers. I was proud to secure $2.5 million in federal funding to make that removal possible. That removal process was completed by February 2023. The restored mural was painted and completed in the spring of 2023. On June 2, 2023, we held a celebration and ribbon cutting for the mural.
The Prado Dam Bicentennial Mural stands today as a vibrant reminder of our community’s love for our country. Like so many great American achievements, it was a collective effort, produced by many people coming together to achieve a common goal. The next time you drive past the mural, I hope you take a moment to give thanks to everyone who made it possible. God bless them, and may God continue to bless America.
Sincerely,
KEN CALVERT
Member of Congress
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