Artist Shares Gift And Is Honored On Flag Day

Benita Messerli poses with her flag painting at the Oskaloosa Senior Center on Flag Day.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Messerli really didn’t want to make a fuss. Painting is a passion, and sharing her talents is something she loves to do. Messerli has shared her talents for many years. She was one of the artists that painted the backdrops for the Nazarene drive-thru nativity that was a staple in Oskaloosa for many years.

Benita Messerli quietly arrived at the Oskaloosa Senior Center one day with a watercolor painting she did of a United States flag flying in front of the US Capitol building. She handed the painting to director Cheryl Brown for her to hang in the center.

Getting the attention for her donation isn’t something Messerli was looking for. “I’d like to have them hang it up and just not bring it up.”

The VFW and American Legion honor guard were on hand to present a small ceremony at the paintings unveiling.

Watercolor is Messerli’s favorite medium, and she loves to paint almost everything; portraits, landscapes, and more besides. A class at Indians Hills inspired her after some other artistic endeavors were no longer enjoyable, she said, “I thought, I’m going to find what I enjoy.”

Messerli has 100 paintings in her home, and she says there are a lot more out there. She does sell some of her work, but she enjoys giving them to people she knows. “If I like somebody really well, I give them a painting or two, or let them walk through the house and pick what they like,” she said.

“It’s a great hobby,” Messerli continued. “I paint quite a bit.”

With the dedication always displayed by the honor guard, they officially dedicated the flag painting at the senior center.

Brown spoke highly of Messerli’s talent. “Benita is an accomplished artist.”

“It gave me goosebumps looking at it, and I told her I was going to save it for a special day.”

That special day came on Flag Day, when that special painting was unveiled.

Messerli said in words to those gathered that the painting is a way to, “remember how great a country we really live in.”

The ceremony at the Oskaloosa Senior Center wasn’t the only Flag Day event.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion held the annual flag retirement event, where retired US flags are destroyed by fire in an honorable ceremony.

Small flags decorated the lawn of the city square east of the bandstand.

On Wednesday, the Oskaloosa Boy Scouts from Troops 71 and 77 took part in a Flag Day ceremony at the Elks Lodge.

The presentation took a look at the evolution of the US flag from the earliest days until the present day.