Community

Greenport student winner of American Legion Mural contest

Andrea Ochoa will have her work permanently displayed at the American Legion in Southold.

A sophomore at Greenport high school, she is the winner of a mural contest and will be painting her design on the wall behind the commander’s desk in a framed space measuring 7 feet, 10 inches by 9 feet, 4 inches.

When the contest was announced in April,  Charles Sanders, the commander of American Legion Post 803, said the mural must include the four pillars of the American Legion — Americanism, national security, children and youth, and veterans affairs and rehabilitation — but that students can otherwise be as creative as they wish.

Andrea’s design features four people — a young girl reading, a student at graduation, someone holding a military rifle and someone wearing an American Legion dress hat — over an American flag backdrop.

She will receive $500 and all materials for the mural will be provided by the legion, Mr. Sanders said. Andrea will have until the end of 2018 to complete the project. Then, she will be officially recognized at the installation of officers dinner in June 2019.

[email protected]

Photo caption: Andrea Ochoa’s drawing will be turned into a mural. (Courtesy photo)