A group of dedicated individuals continue to work to save the Pershing mural before the building becomes rubble later this year.
Organizer Liz Shea – McCoy tells LNK Today With Jack and Friends, “At that time we have to prove we have that $1 million in hand. Have the paperwork done and ready to go so our construction person can start taking down the mural in the summer. Pershing is due to be demolished next fall and they have to start the remediation process which means roping off the building and removing asbestos before taking the building down.”
The Save The Pershing Mural project has a goal of $3 million. They have received contributions from over 255 individuals since March 1st. The committee has received additional monetary commitments from several entities, including including the Acklie Charitable Foundation, Ameritas, the Krieger Foundation, and more totaling over $470,000.
Shea-McCoy says, “The Pershing mural is part of our cultural history. I was talking to an elderly woman yesterday who wanted to donate to the mural and she said it is interesting that people go to Europe to see art and architecture and in our own country we are taking those things down. That touched my heart because it is true. What is progress? Maintaining a part of our iconic history, which is a beautiful piece of art is important. That is why we continue this effort. We have one more month. We will work as hard as we can to get this done.”
The organization has raised about half of the first $1 million needed to remove the project and the deadline is May 20th.
Tax Deductible Donations to Save Pershing’s Mural may be made online at nshsf.org/projects/pershing-mural/ or by mailing to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation (128 North 13th Street, Suite 1010, Lincoln, NE 68508), noting Pershing Mural Preservation Project in the ‘Memo’ line of the check.