A new mural taking shape in Concordia, Missouri, is drawing attention from residents and art lovers across the state.
Local artist Ray Harvey recently shared a preview of his latest project, a large-scale parade mural titled “Salute to America,” giving the community its first real look at the work in progress.
Harvey posted an update introducing what he called “the family,” a section of the mural that captures the spirit of a small town parade.
He explained that the piece is far from finished, noting that he still has a street scene, a majorette, an honor guard, a marching band, more children, a church, and a farmer with an alpaca left to complete.
The playful tease that he was “forgetting something” sparked a wave of comments from followers eager to see what else might make it into the final design.
Community Members Weigh In With Ideas
The post quickly turned into a conversation among locals who began offering suggestions for what the mural should include.
One commenter asked whether the piece would feature top hats, while another joked that Harvey had already gotten started on that idea.
Others chimed in with their own wish lists, including horses, Shrine club golf carts, clowns with balloons, and queen candidates riding in convertibles, all classic staples of small town parades across the Midwest.
The mural has become something of a community project in spirit, even though Harvey is the one holding the brush. Several residents also tried to identify familiar faces among the painted figures, with one person asking if two of the characters were meant to represent local residents known as Mouse and Phyllis.
A Tribute to Small Town Life
Concordia, a small city in Lafayette County, sits along the path of several regional cultural influences and has a strong tradition of community celebrations. Harvey’s mural appears to be paying homage to that heritage, weaving together scenes of patriotism, agriculture, faith, and youth into a single sweeping composition.
The project has already caught the attention of organizations connected to Missouri arts and tourism, along with local government pages, suggesting the finished mural could become a point of pride for the town once complete.
While Harvey has not given an exact timeline for finishing the piece, the growing list of characters and scenes suggests the mural will be an ambitious undertaking. For now, residents will have to wait and watch as more sections are revealed, each one adding another layer to this tribute to American small town life.
More updates are expected as Harvey continues work on the mural in the coming weeks.
