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Raising the flag at Niagara museum

Niagara Area Historical Society volunteers recently revived a 20-year-old wooden art piece made by the late Bob Sparks. The wooden silhouette is of the iconic photograph of the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in World War II. The original wood was repainted in black by Judy Sanicki, with a new plaque of the words, “Lest We Forget” created by Bruce Redmond. From left are Bob Spark’s daughter, Judy Sparks; his son, Bob Sparks; and his widow, Juanita Sparks; along with society members and volunteers Bruce Redmond, Jerry Morin and Judy Sanicki. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
Niagara Area Historical Society volunteers Bruce Redmond, left, and Jerry Morin open the American flag that will be flown above the newly restore art piece made by the late Bob Sparks. From left, ooking on are Bob’s daughter, Trudy Sparks; son Bob Sparks; Judy Sanicki; and Bob’s widow, Juanita. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
Niagara Area Historical Society volunteers Bruce Redmond and Trudy Sparks raise the flag pole up to Jerry Morin to be installed above a newly restore art piece made by the late Bob Sparks. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Niagara Area Historical Society volunteers recently revived a 20-year-old wooden art piece made by the late Bob Sparks. The piece was originally built and displayed on the former American Legion Post building that was torn down in 2018. The wooden silhouette is based on the iconic photograph of the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. “We felt it was important to save, so the museum took it down and installed on the outside wall of the front of museum,” Niagara Area Historical Society president Karen Klenke said. The original wood was repainted in black by Judy Sanicki, with a new plaque of the words, “Lest We Forget” created by Bruce Redmond. Jerry Morin designed and welded a new pipe and roof bracket for the flag pole. The Historical Society also purchased a new 4-by-6-foot flag to be flown above the museum at 1364 River St. in Niagara, Wis. In the first photo, from left are Bob Spark’s daughter, Judy Sparks; his son, Bob Sparks; and his widow, Juanita Sparks; along with society members and volunteers Bruce Redmond, Jerry Morin and Judy Sanicki. In the second photo, Redmond, left, and Morin open the flag while, from left, Trudy Sparks, Bob Sparks, Sanicki and Juanita Sparks look on. In the third photo, Redmond and Sparks raise the flag pole up to Morin to be installed. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photos)

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