News

Town dedicates mural honoring veterans

Cutline Artist Andrea Martin, with Terry Lee Varnadore Jr.'s widow, Casey Bolt, and their daughters Ava and Leila, listen to remarks during the mural dedication. PHOTO BY ASHLEY ELDER

By Ashley Elder, Published: September 17, 2016

The Henderson County Fire Department hoisted a giant American flag above Andrea Martin’s mural honoring veterans on Sunday as townspeople and veterans dedicated the 90x20 foot salute.

Led by Hendersonville Police Department and Patriot Guard motorcycle riders, Gold Star families rode up King Street to Fourth Avenue, where some of them could see their family members depicted in the mural.
The wall depicts four military personnel who served in four branches of the armed services, including two who died in combat and one badly wounded.
Terry Lee Varnadore Jr., 29, of the U.S. Army, died in Afghanistan in 2011. Jessie Cassada, 19, U.S. Marine Corps, died in Afghanistan in 2009. Todd King, U.S. Air Force, survived a suicide bomb in the Green Zone in Iraq. Local veterans Jessica Bayne, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Tony Koone, a Navy veteran who teaches at Hendersonville Elementary School, are also depicted.
“We want to make sure veterans know their sacrifices were not in vain,” said Martin, who worked on the mural in her free time during the past year.
Martin, who has a full time job, said it took her 43 days to complete.
At the dedication, the VFW presented Martin with a plaque for her service.
“Vets are courageous, humble people of integrity,” she said.
Martin’s father always taught her to honor veterans and now she has passed along that lesson to her son, who watched her paint the mural most days.
“America sometimes has a short memory,” she said. “The best way to thank them is to honor their fallen and take care of their families.”
In good weather and bad, Martin could be seen working on the mural throughout the past year.
“Every family that I’ve met, I just adore them,” Martin said. “I can’t explain it. I feel a connection with them.”
Tina Varnadore, mother of fallen Army veteran, Terry Varnadore, said, “We want to thank Andrea for what she has done to help honor our fallen.”
Josh Smartt, president of the veterans supporter group Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, said, “I can’t think of a more fitting day.”
He asked the audience to think about Sept. 12.
“The day we were all Americans, one America,” he said. “We must remain vigilant. We must never forget the price paid for our freedoms.”
During his high school years Jessie Cassada worked with Smartt in the summertime.
“I look up there and I see Americans — men and women who made sacrifices for their country,” Smartt said. “Jessie and Terry made the ultimate sacrifice.”
A former Marine himself, Smartt did not want Cassada to follow in his footsteps.
“Jessie wanted to be a Marine since he was 13 years old and he died doing what he wanted to do,” said Chastity Bloomfield, a close friend of the Cassada family. “He was like a little brother to me. I took him to church when he was little.”
“Most of the guys in our chapter are veterans, so it’s pretty emotional for us to be involved,” Smartt said. “At the end of the day, we are proud to have all of them on that wall and every branch of service represented.”
Cameron Sproles, the best friend of fallen marine Jessie Cassada, attended the ceremony along with Cassada’s mother.
“The mural represents our community as far as Hendersonville’s strong ties to supporting our veterans and fallen heroes,” Sproles said. “And especially today, on Sept. 11. It’s been a great day. And the work that has been put in to do this represents our community in a great fashion.”

Henderson County Sheriff Charles McDonald served in the Navy toward the end of Vietnam.
“Whatever branch, whatever role, those who have served should always be honored,” McDonald said.