Community Corner

Monroe Celebrates Rockwell's 'Freedom from Fear'

Norman Rockwell's famous paintings illustrate the Four Freedoms outlined in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's State of the Union speech in January of 1941, before the United States' military got involved in the fighting in World War II.

The freedoms are: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.

The Monroe Four Freedom's Project has raised funds for book collections and programs consistent with the themes of three of the paintings' so far, and donated a print to a place in town that reflects those values.

"Freedom of Speech" was donated to Monroe Town Hall and hangs in the Town Council Chambers where public meetings are held. "Freedom of Religion" was donated to Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, along with a book collection of world religions. On Wednesday night, a print of "Freedom from Fear" was donated to the Monroe Police Department.

Steve Ballok, who started The Monroe Four Freedoms Project, said he wanted to recognize town police officers for all they do to keep the community safe. He said it's "heartening" to see Monroe's officers providing security for Sandy Hook Elementary School, which has been using the former Chalk Hill building on Fan Hill Road following the horrific shooting at its own building in Newtown last December.

"I thank the chief for that," he said of Police Chief John Salvatore to applause from the audience gathered for the presentation of "Freedom from Fear" in the Ehlers Room of Edith Wheeler Memorial Library Wednesday night.

A total of $7,400 was raised from donations and, minus the cost of the print, its mounting and framing, the funds were given to the Monroe Police Department for its gun safety programs.

Salvatore said the police department has a voluntary gun turn in program and another that provides gun safety locks for families keeping guns at home.

Ballok told a personal story of how he had kept a shotgun of his late father Zoltan for years as a keepsake, before recently deciding to turn it in and allow State Police to destroy it.

"I think my father would be happy knowing that gun will never harm anyone," Ballok said. "It would never silence the voice of another person, least of all a child."

Making it Happen

Diane Mellen of Monroe matched donations dollar-for-dollar and presented Salvatore with a $3,700 check and Nick Kapoor, chairman of the Monroe Democratic Town Committee, presented a check for $1,000 the DTC had raised.

Ballok expressed his gratitude to Kapoor and Mellen and, not to be political, to Republicans in town who have helped him, and to library director, Margaret Borchers, for hosting the event.

The evening featured a presentation by Thomas C. Daly, curator of education for the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., an Invocation by The Rev. Kurt Huber of St. Peter's Episcopal Church On the Green, and singing by Newtown Youth Voices.

Sweets and refreshments were served on the main floor of the library following the presentation. Letters from officials in support of the Four Freedoms Project were on display from Kapoor, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and State Sen. Anthony Musto, as well as from local clergy, including The Rev. Huber and The Rev. Jennifer Gringas of Monroe Congregational Church.


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