GRANTS, N.M. – A Florida teenager’s artwork now graces three sites in Grants. The handcrafted pieces, which replicate the U.S. flag, were presented to Grants Fire Department, Cibola General Hospital, and Grants Police Department during the Feb. 16 ceremony.
Local business owners Dawn and Craig Chapman along with Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brenda Curtright gave the artwork to GPD Chief Steve Chavez, GFD Chief Robert Hays, and hospital CEO Thomas Whelan.
“This was our way of showing how much we appreciate them and all that they do each and every day to help our community and especially during the pandemic,” explained Dawn who added that these entities provide outstanding service to residents.
She recalled the inspiration for recognizing these public servants. The Chapman’s had watched a television interview last summer that featured one young man who has been helping others in his Florida community.
Lorenzo Liberti was volunteering at a local food pantry serving meals during the winter of 2019 before the pandemic struck. Lorenzo met a homeless vet who touched his heart.
The 14-year-old wanted to do something to make a difference but was uncertain about how to focus his efforts.
Lorenzo's father suggested he find a DIY (Do It Yourself) project to pursue during his summer break from school during 2020. That inspired the young artist to begin making handcrafted flags. People who saw the pieces wanted one and Lorenzo realized this was how he could fulfill his dream of helping others. The artist began donating the finished pieces to non-profit organizations whose fundraising activities were designed to benefit homeless vets and children with special needs.
The youthful Floridian expanded his goal to honoring frontline “heroes” as the pandemic swept across the U.S. Lorenzo’s mother is a nurse at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, which is at the southern end of the Tampa Bay Area, north of Fort Myers on the Gulf of Mexico. He crafted a flag to honor the SMH staff for their dedication to serving others.
The Chapman’s saw Lorenzo’s website during last summer’s interview and immediately ordered three customized pieces. Each is signed and numbered. The Grants’ business owners ordered a "THIN BLUE LINE" for GPD, and one "THIN RED LINE" for GFD plus a "RUSTIC AMERICAN" for CGH.
It took several months for their order to arrive because of the widespread interest generated by the television program recalled Dawn. And a special acknowledgement accompanied the delivery.
“My flags have a very personal meaning,” the artist wrote and added, “Like the ‘Good Samaritan’ I want to help those in need, especially the most vulnerable. We are called to help those less fortunate than us, and with your support I can fulfill my passion.”
The artist once again expanded his original goal – now he is creating a flag for each state. The hospital in each state that has been most severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic will receive a handcrafted flag.
Cibola General Hospital is the New Mexico recipient, according to CEO Whelan.
Dawn acknowledged that CGH will display the Chapman’s donation, one of the two flags created by Lorenzo, at the Cibola Family Health Center on Roosevelt Avenue. The one that Lorenzo created to honor New Mexico will be exhibited at the hospital.
“I couldn’t believe my ears,” said Dawn when the CEO explained that CGH was to be recognized as the hospital in New Mexico to receive one of the 50 flags.
“I don't know if this was a coincidence or what, but the odds of this happening are one in a million,” she exclaimed.
The Chapman’s referred anyone who is interested in Lorenzo’s pieces to the artist’s website, www.heroicflags.com, which was listed in the thank you note that accompanied their order.